Choosing where to live is a defining moment for many young adults that shapes the rest of their lives. While Gen Z is flocking across state lines to bustling cities like New York and Los Angeles, older generations are seeking out warmer climates and smaller towns.
“Big cities are attractive because that is where jobs and opportunities are,” says Karen B. Guzzo, sociologist and director of the Carolina Population Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. “Big cities are also often home to, or near, major colleges and universities, and young adults who go away for school often form social networks—including job ties—in those areas. Cities also have more amenities, as shops and restaurants in small towns have been unable to stay in business given a smaller customer base and the existence of online shopping.”