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Millennials make up nearly 25% of the total US Population. However, the population of millennials is not spread even close to evenly throughout the country. As a group, 23-38 year olds tend to cluster in some cities and flee others.
After finding the cities where millennials thrive, we decided to find the cities that are most popular among millennials as whole. We have a list of the 100 most popular cities for millennials, but first let’s check out the 10 cities millennials can’t get enough of:
The Most Popular Cities For Millennials
- Somerville, Massachusetts
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Redmond, Washington
- Arlington, Virginia
- Orlando, Florida
- Sunnyvale, California
- Seattle, Washington
- San Francisco, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Washington, DC
These 10 cities have the highest concentration of millennials in the country. The top 4 cities may not seem familiar, but they are all within commuting distance of major cities. These cities highlight a trend: As millennials age and housing costs rise, many are leaving the cities they love, for nearby cities they can afford.
Your city not in the top 10? Jump to the bottom to see where it landed, or keep reading to see how we determined the most popular cities for millennials.
How We Determined The Most Popular Cities For Millennials
This one was pretty simple. We used the 2018 American Community Survey to find the cities with the largest concentration of millennials. We looked at the percentage of each cities’ population that was composed of people in the 25-39 year old bracket. While this excludes 24 year old millennials and includes 39 year olds (Gen X), it was the most comprehensive look at the generation available.
The higher the percentage of millennials, the more popular the city is for millennials. Here is a breakdown of the top 10:
1. Somerville, Massachusetts
Population: 81,568
Percentage Of Millennials: 40.1%
If you ask someone in Somerville where they live, good chances they’ll just say “Boston.” That’s because Somerville is just a tidy 15 minute drive from Boston. Almost half of Somerville residents are millennials, a truly impressive number. One reason so many millennials call Somerville home? The city offers Boston conveniences, at a price they can actually afford.
2. Cambridge, Massachusetts
Population: 118,967
Percentage Of Millennials: 35.9%
Cambridge is home to Harvard and a high concentration of millennials. Similar to Somerville, Cambridge is close enough to Boston to make commuting feasible.
3.Redmond, Washington
Population: 67,680
Percentage Of Millennials: 33.8%
Redmond, Washington is the third most popular city for millennials, with an impressive 33% of its residents being a millennial. Just 15 miles east of Seattle, Redmond is the place to be for many millennials.
4. Arlington, Virginia
Population: 237,521
Percentage Of Millennials: 33.7%
Many millennials work in DC, but call Arlington home. 17 miles from the nation’s capital, the prices are more affordable, the homes are more spacious, with a commute to DC that won’t drive them insane.
5. Orlando, Florida
Population: 285,705
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.8%
Sunny Orlando is a home to a good chunk of millennials. Good weather, favorable job prospects, and a childhood spent watching Disney, no doubt help keep Orlando full of millennials.
6. Sunnyvale, California
Population: 153,175
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.6%
Silicon Valley has some of the most exciting new companies and job opportunities available to millennials. So no one should be surprised to see Sunnyvale is the 6th most popular city for millennials.
7. Seattle, Washington
Population: 744,949
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.5%
We couldn’t make a list on the most popular cities for millennials without Seattle. While neighboring suburb Redmond may have a higher percentage of millennials, no one lives in Redmond to live in Redmond. They live in Redmond to be near Seattle. The trendy city may be getting pricier, but it still has sizzling hot job opportunities and exciting social events.
8. San Francisco, California
Population: 883,305
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.5%
Even as millennials age and prices rise, San Francisco still remains one of the most popular cities for millennials. The bay city’s population is 32% millennial. Even though San Fran has the highest rent in the nation, millennials are still willing to pay the premium to be close to all the city has to offer.
9. Denver, Colorado
Population: 716,492
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.3
Denver, Colorado is pretty high up on the list of most popular cities for millennials. Denver offers breathtaking scenery and an outdoorsy, relaxed atmosphere, which its residents no doubt appreciate.
10. Washington, DC
Population: 702,455
Percentage Of Millennials: 32.%
The nation’s capital is the 10th most popular city for millennials. 32% of DC’s residents are millennials. While DC has some of the least favorable rates of millennial home ownership, the opportunities are still drawing millennials in.
Summary On The Most Popular Cities For Millennials
While large cities still remain popular among millennials, more and more millennials are calling neighboring suburbs home. Sure, residents of Redmond may say they live in Seattle, but a large chunk of them left Seattle for Redmond
As millennials age and begin settling down this trend should continue. Rising costs of living and shortages of affordable housing also contribute to millennials shifting from cities to nearby suburbs. However, the prominence of cities like San Francisco and Seattle isn’t going anywhere soon. While people may grumble about the price, there are still a large number of millennials who are willing to pay the premium to live in exciting cities with varied opportunities.
Check Out The Top 100 Most Popular Cities For Millennials:
| City | Population | Percent Of Millennials |
|---|---|---|
| Somerville, MA | 81,568 | 40 |
| Cambridge, MA | 118,967 | 35 |
| Redmond, WA | 67,680 | 33 |
| Arlington , V | 237,521 | 33 |
| Orlando , FL | 285,705 | 32 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 153,175 | 32 |
| Seattle, WA | 744,949 | 32 |
| San Francisco, CA | 883,305 | 32 |
| Denver, CO | 716,492 | 32 |
| Washington , DC | 702,455 | 32 |
| Boston | 695,926 | 31 |
| Alexandria | 160,530 | 31 |
| Jersey City | 265,560 | 31 |
| Mountain View | 83,377 | 31 |
| Portland | 66,420 | 31 |
| Austin | 964,243 | 31 |
| Lewisville | 106,205 | 31 |
| Silver Spring | 81,816 | 30 |
| Minneapolis | 425,395 | 30 |
| Salt Lake | 200,576 | 30 |
| Santa Monica | 91,417 | 30 |
| Oakland | 429,114 | 29 |
| Quincy | 94,590 | 29 |
| Beaverton | 98,951 | 29 |
| Atlanta | 498,073 | 28 |
| Portland | 652,573 | 28 |
| Richmond | 228,783 | 28 |
| Miami Beach | 91,715 | 28 |
| Renton | 102,152 | 28 |
| Santa Clara | 129,489 | 28 |
| Tempe | 192,354 | 28 |
| Nashville | 665,498 | 28 |
| North Charleston | 119,214 | 28 |
| Wilmington | 70,653 | 27 |
| Kissimmee | 73,596 | 27 |
| Kirkland | 89,557 | 27 |
| Columbus | 895,877 | 27 |
| Killeen | 149,102 | 27 |
| Charleston | 141,088 | 27 |
| Irving | 242,228 | 27 |
| Alhambra | 84,650 | 27 |
| Clarksville | 156,800 | 27 |
| Chicago | 2,705,988 | 27 |
| Pittsburgh | 301,038 | 27 |
| Enterprise | 187,078 | 27 |
| Durham | 274,497 | 27 |
| Round Rock | 128,490 | 26 |
| Grand Rapids | 200,230 | 26 |
| St. Louis | 302,838 | 26 |
| Milpitas city | 80,424 | 26 |
| Gainesville | 133,851 | 26 |
| Union City | 68,521 | 26 |
| Greenville | 68,543 | 26 |
| Cheektowaga | 74,223 | 26 |
| Union City | 74,568 | 26 |
| San Mateo | 105,016 | 26 |
| Manchester | 112,529 | 26 |
| San Diego | 1,425,999 | 26 |
| Paradise | 242,266 | 26 |
| Dallas | 1,345,076 | 26 |
| Missoula | 74,427 | 26 |
| Chino | 91,589 | 26 |
| Sacramento | 508,517 | 26 |
| Baltimore | 602,495 | 26 |
| Charlotte | 872,506 | 26 |
| Sandy Springs | 108,798 | 26 |
| New Haven | 130,407 | 26 |
| Tacoma | 216,271 | 26 |
| Philadelphia | 1,584,138 | 26 |
| Houston | 2,326,090 | 26 |
| Los Angeles | 3,990,469 | 26 |
| Hillsboro | 108,382 | 26 |
| Raleigh | 470,509 | 25 |
| Rockville | 68,252 | 25 |
| Everett | 111,263 | 25 |
| Redwood | 86,186 | 25 |
| Fayetteville | 86,765 | 25 |
| Norfolk | 244,076 | 25 |
| Madison | 258,034 | 25 |
| Pittsburg | 72,443 | 25 |
| Schaumburg | 73,970 | 25 |
| Fargo | 125,040 | 25 |
| Midland | 142,339 | 25 |
| New Orleans | 391,006 | 25 |
| Bryan | 85,447 | 25 |
| El Cajon | 103,229 | 25 |
| Richmond | 110,175 | 25 |
| West Valley | 136,420 | 25 |
| Santa Ana | 332,727 | 25 |
| Tampa | 392,905 | 25 |
| Rochester | 206,290 | 25 |
| Conroe | 87,656 | 25 |
| Norman | 123,469 | 25 |
| Thornton | 139,430 | 25 |
| Bellflower | 77,132 | 25 |
| Lakewood | 80,132 | 25 |
| Cincinnati | 302,615 | 25 |
| Cranston | 81,282 | 25 |
| Bellevue | 147,595 | 25 |
| St. Paul | 307,701 | 25 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
