The cities attracting the most Millennial transplants

The cities attracting the most Millennial transplants

Millennials now make up an estimated 36% of the workforce, making this cohort highly valuable to any local economy. With more flexibility than ever due to remote work and rapidly developing technologies, many Millennial households opt to move locations in pursuit of job opportunities, higher pay, preferable lifestyles, and family considerations, among other reasons. Locations that can attract Millennials may benefit from stronger and more diverse workforces, disposable income flowing to local businesses, and additional tax revenue. On the other hand, it can also lead to more competitive housing markets and a change in the business mix for preexisting locals.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 254 of the largest U.S. cities based on the relative popularity among Millennials (those aged 25 to 44) who moved to that city in 2024, using U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey data.

Key Findings

• Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the most popular destination for Millennial transplants. A whopping 11.86% of Cambridge’s population in 2024 was a Millennial who arrived that year. Last year, Cambridge ranked as the second most popular, with 12.15% of the population being new Millennial transplants. In all, Cambridge’s population jumped to 41.4% being between the ages of 25 and 44 in 2024, when it was just 34.75% a year earlier.
• Seattle has the largest Millennial population. An estimated 43.4% of Seattle’s population is Millennials, or just over 335,000 individuals. Seattle ranked second this year for the biggest injection of Millennial transplants, with 11.49% of the population in 2024 represented by these fresh movers.
• Hollywood, Florida, was most popular for Millennials migrating to the U.S. According to the latest data, 2.27% of Hollywood’s population moved in from abroad over just one year, the highest nationwide. The city was less attractive for domestic Millennials, ranking 114th overall in popularity. Cambridge, Massachusetts (1.60%), and Plano, Texas (1.55%), had the next-highest migration from international Millennials in 2024.
• These cities are the least popular among Millennials. Oxnard, California, has the lowest frequency of Millennials moving in at just 2.50% of the total population. Elk Grove, California (2.72%); Spring Hill, Florida (2.77%); Lowell, Massachusetts (2.78%); and Brownsville, Texas (2.79%) also saw among the lowest inflows of this cohort. In total, the cities with the relatively fewest Millennials are Cape Coral, Florida (21.4%); Provo, Utah (21.7%); and The Woodlands, Texas (22.9%).

Top 50 Cities Where Millennials Moved

Cities are ranked based on the percentage of the population represented by new transplants in the age range of 25 to 44 during the year 2024.

1. Cambridge, Massachusetts

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 11.86%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 14,379
• All local Millennials: 49,811
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.4%
• Moved in from same county: 5,205
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,232
• Moved in from a different state: 4,998
• Moved in from abroad: 1,945

2. Seattle, Washington

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 11.49%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 89,755
• All local Millennials: 335,224
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 43.4%
• Moved in from same county: 54,910
• Moved in from different county in same state: 7,450
• Moved in from a different state: 23,137
• Moved in from abroad: 4,257

3. Sunnyvale, California

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 11.30%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 17,719
• All local Millennials: 63,557
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.1%
• Moved in from same county: 12,574
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,789
• Moved in from a different state: 1,263
• Moved in from abroad: 1,093

4. Orlando, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 11.10%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 37,158
• All local Millennials: 121,547
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.9%
• Moved in from same county: 26,184
• Moved in from different county in same state: 4,814
• Moved in from a different state: 3,086
• Moved in from abroad: 3,073

5. Arlington, Virginia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 10.72%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 25,711
• All local Millennials: 94,300
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.7%
• Moved in from same county: 8,996
• Moved in from different county in same state: 4,572
• Moved in from a different state: 10,098
• Moved in from abroad: 2,046

6. Austin, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 10.57%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 105,089
• All local Millennials: 393,638
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.9%
• Moved in from same county: 59,619
• Moved in from different county in same state: 21,169
• Moved in from a different state: 16,429
• Moved in from abroad: 7,873

7. Bellevue, Washington

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 10.56%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 16,304
• All local Millennials: 56,922
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 37.1%
• Moved in from same county: 9,531
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,050
• Moved in from a different state: 3,519
• Moved in from abroad: 2,204

8. Sandy Springs, Georgia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 10.17%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 10,726
• All local Millennials: 35,342
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.9%
• Moved in from same county: 3,783
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,467
• Moved in from a different state: 3,365
• Moved in from abroad: 1,111

9. Denver, Colorado

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 10.02%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 73,033
• All local Millennials: 297,980
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.4%
• Moved in from same county: 38,420
• Moved in from different county in same state: 17,798
• Moved in from a different state: 14,553
• Moved in from abroad: 2,263

10. Santa Clara, California

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.97%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 13,274
• All local Millennials: 51,109
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 38.6%
• Moved in from same county: 6,636
• Moved in from different county in same state: 3,169
• Moved in from a different state: 1,826
• Moved in from abroad: 1,642

11. Atlanta, Georgia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.84%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 51,194
• All local Millennials: 187,801
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%
• Moved in from same county: 20,665
• Moved in from different county in same state: 14,740
• Moved in from a different state: 11,988
• Moved in from abroad: 3,800

12. Alexandria, Virginia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.79%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 15,571
• All local Millennials: 62,931
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 40.5%
• Moved in from same county: 4,461
• Moved in from different county in same state: 4,036
• Moved in from a different state: 5,293
• Moved in from abroad: 1,781

13. Washington, District of Columbia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.33%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 65,486
• All local Millennials: 271,810
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.1%
• Moved in from same county: 39,101
• Moved in from different county in same state: 0
• Moved in from a different state: 21,913
• Moved in from abroad: 4,472

14. Nashville, Tennessee

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.21%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 64,925
• All local Millennials: 250,572
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.0%
• Moved in from same county: 34,338
• Moved in from different county in same state: 10,373
• Moved in from a different state: 15,545
• Moved in from abroad: 4,669

15. Conroe, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.14%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 10,470
• All local Millennials: 39,287
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.7%
• Moved in from same county: 5,383
• Moved in from different county in same state: 3,802
• Moved in from a different state: 863
• Moved in from abroad: 423

16. Tempe, Arizona

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 9.01%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 17,134
• All local Millennials: 63,395
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.7%
• Moved in from same county: 11,393
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,165
• Moved in from a different state: 2,193
• Moved in from abroad: 2,382

17. Round Rock, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.88%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 12,048
• All local Millennials: 44,037
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.6%
• Moved in from same county: 3,633
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,668
• Moved in from a different state: 1,390
• Moved in from abroad: 1,358

18. Portland, Oregon

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.76%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 55,773
• All local Millennials: 233,660
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.9%
• Moved in from same county: 34,081
• Moved in from different county in same state: 6,790
• Moved in from a different state: 12,923
• Moved in from abroad: 1,979

19. Salt Lake City, Utah

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.58%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 18,686
• All local Millennials: 78,281
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%
• Moved in from same county: 9,422
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,556
• Moved in from a different state: 5,885
• Moved in from abroad: 823

20. San Francisco, California

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.57%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 70,908
• All local Millennials: 301,787
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.8%
• Moved in from same county: 41,401
• Moved in from different county in same state: 14,402
• Moved in from a different state: 9,936
• Moved in from abroad: 5,169

21. Irving, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.53%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 22,003
• All local Millennials: 89,766
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 35.3%
• Moved in from same county: 12,025
• Moved in from different county in same state: 4,149
• Moved in from a different state: 2,847
• Moved in from abroad: 2,982

22. Gainesville, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.48%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 12,610
• All local Millennials: 37,766
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 25.6%
• Moved in from same county: 5,836
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,459
• Moved in from a different state: 3,861
• Moved in from abroad: 1,453

23. Richmond, Virginia

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.36%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 19,531
• All local Millennials: 84,217
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%
• Moved in from same county: 10,703
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,851
• Moved in from a different state: 2,542
• Moved in from abroad: 434

24. St. Petersburg, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.26%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 22,063
• All local Millennials: 79,291
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.9%
• Moved in from same county: 11,298
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,635
• Moved in from a different state: 4,496
• Moved in from abroad: 634

25. Fayetteville, North Carolina

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.18%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 17,135
• All local Millennials: 63,544
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.8%
• Moved in from same county: 8,672
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,934
• Moved in from a different state: 4,496
• Moved in from abroad: 1,033

26. St. George, Utah

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.12%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 8,625
• All local Millennials: 26,029
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 24.7%
• Moved in from same county: 3,622
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,874
• Moved in from a different state: 2,092
• Moved in from abroad: 38

27. Boston, Massachusetts

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.11%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 54,617
• All local Millennials: 245,387
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.8%
• Moved in from same county: 22,918
• Moved in from different county in same state: 11,955
• Moved in from a different state: 14,100
• Moved in from abroad: 5,644

28. Everett, Washington

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 8.02%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 9,059
• All local Millennials: 38,116
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.9%
• Moved in from same county: 4,801
• Moved in from different county in same state: 561
• Moved in from a different state: 3,125
• Moved in from abroad: 571

29. Jersey City, New Jersey

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.97%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 24,135
• All local Millennials: 127,775
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 42.7%
• Moved in from same county: 11,139
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,633
• Moved in from a different state: 6,571
• Moved in from abroad: 3,792

30. Hillsboro, Oregon

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.86%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 8,675
• All local Millennials: 39,959
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.6%
• Moved in from same county: 4,044
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,512
• Moved in from a different state: 2,337
• Moved in from abroad: 783

31. Reno, Nevada

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.79%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 21,939
• All local Millennials: 93,414
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.5%
• Moved in from same county: 13,251
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,487
• Moved in from a different state: 5,653
• Moved in from abroad: 548

32. Madison, Wisconsin

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.69%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 21,941
• All local Millennials: 91,899
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.4%
• Moved in from same county: 13,445
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,321
• Moved in from a different state: 5,271
• Moved in from abroad: 904

33. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.65%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 37,770
• All local Millennials: 158,666
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.6%
• Moved in from same county: 20,190
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,737
• Moved in from a different state: 10,127
• Moved in from abroad: 1,716

34. Durham, North Carolina

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.65%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 23,081
• All local Millennials: 102,836
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.7%
• Moved in from same county: 7,275
• Moved in from different county in same state: 6,205
• Moved in from a different state: 7,881
• Moved in from abroad: 1,720

35. Wilmington, North Carolina

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.64%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 9,570
• All local Millennials: 34,549
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 27.8%
• Moved in from same county: 4,314
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,623
• Moved in from a different state: 2,058
• Moved in from abroad: 575

36. Miami, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.59%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 36,963
• All local Millennials: 165,464
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.4%
• Moved in from same county: 19,832
• Moved in from different county in same state: 4,395
• Moved in from a different state: 5,388
• Moved in from abroad: 7,349

37. Tallahassee, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.59%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 15,564
• All local Millennials: 53,771
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 26.5%
• Moved in from same county: 9,793
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,541
• Moved in from a different state: 2,589
• Moved in from abroad: 1,642

38. Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.58%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 32,485
• All local Millennials: 154,292
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.3%
• Moved in from same county: 20,451
• Moved in from different county in same state: 6,382
• Moved in from a different state: 4,629
• Moved in from abroad: 1,024

39. Denton, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.57%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 12,568
• All local Millennials: 51,077
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 31.1%
• Moved in from same county: 6,113
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,115
• Moved in from a different state: 606
• Moved in from abroad: 734

40. Dallas, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.53%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 99,895
• All local Millennials: 440,810
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.6%
• Moved in from same county: 50,102
• Moved in from different county in same state: 23,034
• Moved in from a different state: 16,477
• Moved in from abroad: 10,283

41. Boulder, Colorado

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.52%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 8,035
• All local Millennials: 27,081
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 25.5%
• Moved in from same county: 4,283
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,225
• Moved in from a different state: 1,958
• Moved in from abroad: 569

42. Killeen, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.49%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 12,037
• All local Millennials: 52,354
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.3%
• Moved in from same county: 5,118
• Moved in from different county in same state: 2,097
• Moved in from a different state: 4,418
• Moved in from abroad: 403

43. Houston, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.48%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 178,682
• All local Millennials: 779,627
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.1%
• Moved in from same county: 116,665
• Moved in from different county in same state: 17,649
• Moved in from a different state: 21,192
• Moved in from abroad: 23,176

44. San Antonio, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.45%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 113,779
• All local Millennials: 463,903
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.7%
• Moved in from same county: 74,273
• Moved in from different county in same state: 16,260
• Moved in from a different state: 14,406
• Moved in from abroad: 8,839

45. El Cajon, California

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.45%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 7,693
• All local Millennials: 30,746
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.1%
• Moved in from same county: 5,250
• Moved in from different county in same state: 547
• Moved in from a different state: 504
• Moved in from abroad: 1,391

46. Miramar, Florida

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.41%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 10,611
• All local Millennials: 39,341
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 27.8%
• Moved in from same county: 2,312
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,631
• Moved in from a different state: 667
• Moved in from abroad: 2,001

47. Vancouver, Washington

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.39%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 14,710
• All local Millennials: 62,857
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 31.9%
• Moved in from same county: 8,444
• Moved in from different county in same state: 1,653
• Moved in from a different state: 4,427
• Moved in from abroad: 186

48. Plano, Texas

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.39%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 21,624
• All local Millennials: 85,337
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.5%
• Moved in from same county: 6,076
• Moved in from different county in same state: 5,093
• Moved in from a different state: 5,901
• Moved in from abroad: 4,555

49. Columbus, Ohio

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.38%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 68,727
• All local Millennials: 323,902
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 35.2%
• Moved in from same county: 44,509
• Moved in from different county in same state: 9,262
• Moved in from a different state: 10,745
• Moved in from abroad: 4,211

50. Davenport, Iowa

• Millennials moved in relative to total population: 7.37%
• Millennials moved in over one year: 7,444
• All local Millennials: 29,313
• All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.3%
• Moved in from same county: 4,630
• Moved in from different county in same state: 835
• Moved in from a different state: 1,826
• Moved in from abroad: 153

Data and Methodology

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024. The study included 254 of the largest U.S. cities with available data. Millennials were defined as those aged 25 to 44. Cities were ranked by the percentage of the total population represented by Millennials who moved into the city in 2024.

This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.