Generation Z are quickly entering the workfoce and moving across the country. Just as millennials entered the workforce nearly a decade ago and reshuffled the country’s biggest population center, Gen Z is poised to do the same in the next 5 to 10 years. In these cities, Gen Z is beginning to take over.
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Cities With Biggest Influx of Gen Z
One commonality of where Gen Z is moving is that they are going to smaller to mid-sized cities where the cost of living is cheaper. The only large metro areas which saw an increase in Gen Z population were Boston and Phoenix which ranked 96 and 56 respectively. In fact the average population of the ten cities that saw the largest Gen Z growth was around 304,000.
Here are the top cities where Gen Z is moving in 2020:
Lynchburg, VA
Lynchburg is Virginia’s 5th largest metro area, as well as America’s fastest growing Gen Z stronghold.The city of 260,000 can likely thank its Gen Z population growth to the numerous universities in the city. The reasonable cost of living also makes this smallish city an ideal place for Gen Zers to start their careers.
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area
Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Huntington-Ashland metro area is the biggest in the region with Huntington being West Virginia’s second biggest city. Despite an overall population decline of 2.7% since 2015, this area has seen a 3.6% increase in its Gen Z population, making it the 2nd biggest city for Gen Z growth in the country.
Trenton, NJ
The capital of New Jersey is often overshadowed by Newark and near by neighbor Philadelphia. This mid-sized city however is becoming a hot bed for Gen Z which has seen a 4.3% increase in its population despite its overall population declining by 0.8%.
San Luis Obispo, CA
Situated nearly equidistant from San Francisco and Los Angeles, this nearly 300 year old city has seen its Gen Z population boom in the past several years. The town has seen its Gen Z population grow by nearly 5% compared to just a 0.5% growth in the rest of its population. The city’s Gen Z growth may in part be due to Cal Poly being near the city.
Kalamazoo, MI
This city home to several universities has seen its Gen Z population grow by 4.4% since 2015. In comparison, the rest of its population has only grown by 1% in that same time – making it have the 5th highest growth of any large metro are. In comparison, Detroit has seen a loss in 5.2% of it’s Gen Z population in that time.
List of All Cities Where Gen Z is Growing
| Geographic Area Name | Gen Z Pop 2018 | Total 2018 Population | Gen Z Pop 2015 | Total 2015 Population | Gen Z Change from 2015 | Rest of Population Change Since 2015 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA Metro Area | 25,182 | 265,405 | 21,087 | 260,504 | 19.40% | 0.30% | 19% |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area | 23,999 | 352,823 | 23,172 | 361,580 | 3.60% | -2.70% | 6% |
| Trenton, NJ Metro Area | 29,475 | 369,811 | 28,270 | 371,398 | 4.30% | -0.80% | 5% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA Metro Area | 30,716 | 284,010 | 29,391 | 281,401 | 4.50% | 0.50% | 4% |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area | 36,318 | 340,318 | 34,777 | 335,340 | 4.40% | 1.00% | 3% |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area | 54,762 | 842,913 | 52,693 | 832,327 | 3.90% | 1.00% | 3% |
| Salem, OR Metro Area | 31,624 | 432,102 | 29,456 | 410,091 | 7.40% | 4.80% | 3% |
| Fayetteville, NC Metro Area | 35,609 | 387,094 | 33,991 | 376,509 | 4.80% | 2.40% | 2% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL Metro Area | 24,729 | 482,040 | 22,935 | 454,846 | 7.80% | 5.60% | 2% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metro Area | 21,403 | 269,805 | 20,289 | 260,131 | 5.50% | 3.30% | 2% |
| Jackson, MS Metro Area | 40,134 | 583,080 | 39,198 | 578,561 | 2.40% | 0.60% | 2% |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metro Area | 42,998 | 553,795 | 39,751 | 515,403 | 8.20% | 6.80% | 1% |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area | 47,751 | 516,697 | 45,833 | 500,535 | 4.20% | 2.80% | 1% |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area | 29,240 | 436,341 | 29,332 | 443,708 | -0.30% | -1.60% | 1% |
| Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area | 40,585 | 671,456 | 39,452 | 659,330 | 2.90% | 1.70% | 1% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area | 70,374 | 883,169 | 69,666 | 881,830 | 1.00% | 0.10% | 1% |
| Knoxville, TN Metro Area | 65,330 | 882,598 | 63,383 | 861,679 | 3.10% | 2.20% | 1% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH Metro Area | 26,775 | 415,247 | 26,139 | 406,678 | 2.40% | 2.00% | 0% |
| Ann Arbor, MI Metro Area | 48,404 | 370,963 | 46,943 | 358,880 | 3.10% | 3.00% | 0% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metro Area | 59,920 | 943,823 | 60,137 | 948,053 | -0.40% | -0.40% | 0% |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metro Area | 79,336 | 1,069,405 | 77,196 | 1,038,583 | 2.80% | 2.80% | 0% |
| Gainesville, FL Metro Area | 39,612 | 288,711 | 38,253 | 276,881 | 3.60% | 3.80% | 0% |
| Provo-Orem, UT Metro Area | 78,869 | 632,705 | 73,987 | 585,257 | 6.60% | 7.30% | -1% |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metro Area | 64,779 | 906,626 | 63,184 | 874,869 | 2.50% | 3.40% | -1% |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area | 143,405 | 2,189,442 | 142,960 | 2,159,329 | 0.30% | 1.40% | -1% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area | 348,073 | 4,875,390 | 344,989 | 4,774,321 | 0.90% | 2.10% | -1% |
| Salt Lake City, UT Metro Area | 85,369 | 1,222,540 | 82,860 | 1,170,266 | 3.00% | 4.30% | -1% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metro Area | 21,990 | 380,106 | 22,541 | 384,584 | -2.40% | -1.00% | -1% |
| Syracuse, NY Metro Area | 47,158 | 650,502 | 48,613 | 660,458 | -3.00% | -1.30% | -2% |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metro Area | 68,616 | 1,151,801 | 69,407 | 1,145,647 | -1.10% | 0.60% | -2% |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metro Area | 45,591 | 676,948 | 44,211 | 644,030 | 3.10% | 4.90% | -2% |
| Springfield, MA Metro Area | 57,983 | 631,761 | 59,017 | 631,982 | -1.80% | 0.10% | -2% |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area | 37,482 | 574,659 | 37,594 | 565,006 | -0.30% | 1.70% | -2% |
| Laredo, TX Metro Area | 21,805 | 275,910 | 21,759 | 269,721 | 0.20% | 2.30% | -2% |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metro Area | 318,182 | 4,857,962 | 306,651 | 4,574,531 | 3.80% | 5.90% | -2% |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area | 65,787 | 865,939 | 65,437 | 842,304 | 0.50% | 2.80% | -2% |
| Akron, OH Metro Area | 51,975 | 704,845 | 53,033 | 704,243 | -2.00% | 0.20% | -2% |
| Madison, WI Metro Area | 61,527 | 660,422 | 61,125 | 641,385 | 0.70% | 2.90% | -2% |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area | 38,591 | 655,409 | 37,544 | 622,899 | 2.80% | 5.10% | -2% |
| Waco, TX Metro Area | 27,320 | 270,566 | 27,115 | 262,425 | 0.80% | 3.00% | -2% |
| Wichita, KS Metro Area | 42,457 | 645,031 | 43,396 | 644,502 | -2.20% | 0.20% | -2% |
| Reading, PA Metro Area | 27,433 | 420,152 | 27,763 | 415,271 | -1.20% | 1.30% | -2% |
| Wilmington, NC Metro Area | 25,490 | 294,436 | 24,707 | 277,969 | 3.20% | 5.60% | -2% |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX Metro Area | 150,172 | 2,168,316 | 142,459 | 2,000,860 | 5.40% | 8.00% | -3% |
| Modesto, CA Metro Area | 37,796 | 549,815 | 37,987 | 538,388 | -0.50% | 2.20% | -3% |
| Duluth, MN-WI Metro Area | 22,878 | 278,799 | 23,546 | 279,601 | -2.80% | 0.00% | -3% |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC Metro Area | 50,965 | 767,711 | 51,316 | 752,157 | -0.70% | 2.10% | -3% |
| New Haven-Milford, CT Metro Area | 58,809 | 857,620 | 60,520 | 859,470 | -2.80% | 0.00% | -3% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area | 219,906 | 3,629,190 | 219,693 | 3,524,583 | 0.10% | 3.00% | -3% |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area | 30,836 | 423,908 | 31,614 | 422,156 | -2.50% | 0.60% | -3% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area | 123,352 | 1,999,107 | 125,940 | 1,976,836 | -2.10% | 1.30% | -3% |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area | 42,694 | 708,009 | 40,642 | 650,092 | 5.00% | 8.60% | -4% |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area | 126,288 | 2,057,009 | 130,975 | 2,060,810 | -3.60% | 0.00% | -4% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area | 490,310 | 7,540,371 | 479,103 | 7,102,165 | 2.30% | 6.00% | -4% |
| York-Hanover, PA Metro Area | 25,909 | 448,273 | 26,531 | 442,867 | -2.30% | 1.40% | -4% |
| Tucson, AZ Metro Area | 89,756 | 1,039,073 | 90,533 | 1,010,025 | -0.90% | 3.00% | -4% |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metro Area | 59,607 | 941,924 | 60,133 | 915,557 | -0.90% | 2.90% | -4% |
| Lincoln, NE Metro Area | 36,070 | 333,964 | 36,291 | 323,557 | -0.60% | 3.30% | -4% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area | 393,546 | 6,251,240 | 398,975 | 6,098,283 | -1.40% | 2.60% | -4% |
| Peoria, IL Metro Area | 22,059 | 368,683 | 23,418 | 376,987 | -5.80% | -1.80% | -4% |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metro Area | 32,511 | 538,952 | 34,456 | 549,885 | -5.60% | -1.60% | -4% |
| Reno, NV Metro Area | 30,596 | 471,265 | 30,513 | 451,138 | 0.30% | 4.40% | -4% |
| Eugene, OR Metro Area | 35,226 | 379,611 | 35,132 | 362,895 | 0.30% | 4.60% | -4% |
| Worcester, MA-CT Metro Area | 64,256 | 947,866 | 66,134 | 935,536 | -2.80% | 1.50% | -4% |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metro Area | 36,618 | 754,610 | 35,563 | 701,982 | 3.00% | 7.30% | -4% |
| Salisbury, MD-DE Metro Area | 27,093 | 409,979 | 27,267 | 395,300 | -0.60% | 3.80% | -4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area | 135,332 | 2,324,743 | 142,930 | 2,353,045 | -5.30% | -0.90% | -4% |
| El Paso, TX Metro Area | 69,608 | 844,723 | 72,036 | 838,019 | -3.40% | 1.10% | -4% |
| College Station-Bryan, TX Metro Area | 45,843 | 265,024 | 45,274 | 250,145 | 1.30% | 5.70% | -4% |
| Canton-Massillon, OH Metro Area | 23,820 | 398,655 | 25,137 | 402,976 | -5.20% | -0.70% | -4% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metro Area | 84,171 | 1,206,300 | 88,240 | 1,211,324 | -4.60% | -0.10% | -5% |
| Salinas, CA Metro Area | 31,653 | 435,594 | 32,940 | 433,898 | -3.90% | 0.70% | -5% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area | 385,006 | 5,950,828 | 386,396 | 5,709,731 | -0.40% | 4.20% | -5% |
| Columbus, OH Metro Area | 134,059 | 2,106,541 | 134,579 | 2,021,632 | -0.40% | 4.20% | -5% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metro Area | 142,498 | 2,478,996 | 143,733 | 2,390,244 | -0.90% | 3.80% | -5% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metro Area | 98,752 | 1,576,113 | 103,256 | 1,575,747 | -4.40% | 0.30% | -5% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metro Area | 127,993 | 2,048,428 | 130,231 | 1,988,152 | -1.70% | 3.10% | -5% |
| Albuquerque, NM Metro Area | 58,527 | 916,791 | 60,651 | 906,209 | -3.50% | 1.40% | -5% |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metro Area | 39,872 | 605,903 | 40,800 | 590,772 | -2.30% | 2.70% | -5% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area | 177,462 | 2,802,789 | 185,973 | 2,797,407 | -4.60% | 0.50% | -5% |
| Dayton, OH Metro Area | 53,302 | 806,548 | 55,634 | 800,909 | -4.20% | 1.00% | -5% |
| Boise City, ID Metro Area | 44,639 | 732,257 | 43,392 | 675,800 | 2.90% | 8.20% | -5% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area | 27,175 | 410,233 | 28,493 | 408,216 | -4.60% | 0.80% | -5% |
| Toledo, OH Metro Area | 46,585 | 602,871 | 49,312 | 605,956 | -5.50% | -0.10% | -5% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area | 617,434 | 9,497,790 | 654,881 | 9,550,108 | -5.70% | -0.20% | -6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area | 169,762 | 2,932,415 | 171,977 | 2,814,330 | -1.30% | 4.30% | -6% |
| Lubbock, TX Metro Area | 37,728 | 319,995 | 38,838 | 312,433 | -2.90% | 2.80% | -6% |
| Raleigh, NC Metro Area | 83,946 | 1,362,540 | 82,972 | 1,273,568 | 1.20% | 6.90% | -6% |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metro Area | 35,706 | 659,605 | 35,689 | 623,279 | 0.00% | 5.80% | -6% |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area | 174,743 | 3,142,663 | 175,012 | 2,975,225 | -0.20% | 5.60% | -6% |
| Richmond, VA Metro Area | 80,089 | 1,303,621 | 82,604 | 1,271,142 | -3.00% | 2.80% | -6% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area | 47,576 | 446,527 | 50,015 | 444,769 | -4.90% | 0.90% | -6% |
| Spartanburg, SC Metro Area | 22,010 | 341,298 | 22,185 | 325,079 | -0.80% | 5.00% | -6% |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area | 35,461 | 558,703 | 36,694 | 546,351 | -3.40% | 2.50% | -6% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area | 361,611 | 6,198,782 | 371,269 | 6,012,331 | -2.60% | 3.30% | -6% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area | 387,911 | 6,096,372 | 408,746 | 6,069,875 | -5.10% | 0.80% | -6% |
| Mobile, AL Metro Area | 27,026 | 413,757 | 28,736 | 415,395 | -6.00% | 0.00% | -6% |
| Tulsa, OK Metro Area | 60,550 | 993,928 | 63,353 | 980,794 | -4.40% | 1.60% | -6% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area | 169,361 | 2,804,724 | 180,064 | 2,812,313 | -5.90% | 0.10% | -6% |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area | 112,195 | 1,621,337 | 118,328 | 1,613,070 | -5.20% | 0.90% | -6% |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area | 263,781 | 4,326,442 | 278,312 | 4,302,043 | -5.20% | 0.90% | -6% |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area | 45,532 | 575,412 | 46,423 | 552,493 | -1.90% | 4.30% | -6% |
| Flint, MI Metro Area | 25,197 | 406,892 | 27,067 | 410,849 | -6.90% | -0.50% | -6% |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA Metro Area | 51,560 | 752,660 | 52,928 | 726,106 | -2.60% | 3.80% | -6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metro Area | 1,261,822 | 19,979,477 | 1,359,053 | 20,182,305 | -7.20% | -0.50% | -7% |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA Metro Area | 159,081 | 2,345,210 | 164,501 | 2,274,194 | -3.30% | 3.40% | -7% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area | 173,042 | 2,518,036 | 174,653 | 2,381,828 | -0.90% | 5.80% | -7% |
| Clarksville, TN-KY Metro Area | 27,557 | 290,745 | 28,286 | 279,887 | -2.60% | 4.10% | -7% |
| Asheville, NC Metro Area | 24,602 | 459,585 | 25,536 | 446,840 | -3.70% | 3.10% | -7% |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area | 50,634 | 741,357 | 53,213 | 730,250 | -4.80% | 1.90% | -7% |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metro Area | 36,417 | 821,573 | 36,389 | 768,918 | 0.10% | 6.80% | -7% |
| Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area | 27,244 | 437,631 | 28,583 | 429,820 | -4.70% | 2.10% | -7% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metro Area | 57,191 | 850,967 | 61,051 | 850,536 | -6.30% | 0.50% | -7% |
| Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area | 96,997 | 1,396,445 | 100,786 | 1,358,452 | -3.80% | 3.10% | -7% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area | 332,735 | 4,622,361 | 345,307 | 4,489,159 | -3.60% | 3.20% | -7% |
| Columbia, SC Metro Area | 67,345 | 833,165 | 70,016 | 810,574 | -3.80% | 3.10% | -7% |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area | 88,581 | 1,350,064 | 94,264 | 1,343,572 | -6.00% | 0.90% | -7% |
| Lancaster, PA Metro Area | 33,386 | 543,557 | 35,266 | 536,624 | -5.30% | 1.60% | -7% |
| Springfield, MO Metro Area | 39,954 | 468,126 | 41,526 | 455,074 | -3.80% | 3.20% | -7% |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area | 451,018 | 6,997,384 | 459,362 | 6,656,946 | -1.80% | 5.20% | -7% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area | 74,981 | 1,296,815 | 79,249 | 1,279,335 | -5.40% | 1.70% | -7% |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA Metro Area | 32,982 | 465,861 | 35,001 | 459,863 | -5.80% | 1.70% | -8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metro Area | 265,621 | 4,729,484 | 281,633 | 4,656,132 | -5.70% | 1.90% | -8% |
| Rochester, NY Metro Area | 72,555 | 1,071,082 | 78,914 | 1,081,954 | -8.10% | -0.40% | -8% |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area | 26,705 | 274,255 | 28,716 | 274,146 | -7.00% | 0.80% | -8% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area | 911,605 | 13,291,486 | 986,380 | 13,340,068 | -7.60% | 0.20% | -8% |
| Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area | 123,035 | 2,142,419 | 129,467 | 2,088,269 | -5.00% | 2.90% | -8% |
| Fort Collins, CO Metro Area | 35,528 | 350,518 | 36,483 | 333,577 | -2.60% | 5.40% | -8% |
| Lafayette, LA Metro Area | 31,983 | 489,364 | 34,651 | 490,488 | -7.70% | 0.30% | -8% |
| Santa Rosa, CA Metro Area | 27,975 | 499,942 | 30,476 | 502,146 | -8.20% | 0.10% | -8% |
| Bakersfield, CA Metro Area | 65,981 | 896,764 | 70,292 | 882,176 | -6.10% | 2.10% | -8% |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area | 22,681 | 322,424 | 24,408 | 320,098 | -7.10% | 1.30% | -8% |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area | 152,916 | 2,569,213 | 156,615 | 2,426,363 | -2.40% | 6.00% | -8% |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area | 49,391 | 481,893 | 52,424 | 472,276 | -5.80% | 2.70% | -8% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area | 238,725 | 3,939,363 | 245,758 | 3,733,580 | -2.90% | 5.70% | -9% |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area | 252,462 | 3,343,364 | 270,561 | 3,299,521 | -6.70% | 1.90% | -9% |
| Colorado Springs, CO Metro Area | 58,482 | 738,939 | 59,971 | 697,856 | -2.50% | 6.10% | -9% |
| Boulder, CO Metro Area | 32,819 | 326,078 | 34,972 | 319,372 | -6.20% | 2.80% | -9% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metro Area | 134,338 | 2,231,647 | 139,075 | 2,114,801 | -3.40% | 5.70% | -9% |
| Jacksonville, FL Metro Area | 90,801 | 1,534,701 | 93,793 | 1,449,481 | -3.20% | 6.10% | -9% |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA Metro Area | 32,275 | 555,485 | 35,544 | 558,166 | -9.20% | 0.10% | -9% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area | 73,492 | 1,270,399 | 80,201 | 1,262,888 | -8.40% | 1.10% | -9% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area | 171,032 | 2,572,962 | 174,116 | 2,387,138 | -1.80% | 7.90% | -10% |
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metro Area | 25,844 | 397,261 | 27,849 | 389,255 | -7.20% | 2.60% | -10% |
| Corpus Christi, TX Metro Area | 29,557 | 452,927 | 32,380 | 450,436 | -8.70% | 1.20% | -10% |
| Killeen-Temple, TX Metro Area | 39,480 | 451,681 | 41,416 | 430,642 | -4.70% | 5.30% | -10% |
| Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area | 66,675 | 831,310 | 73,406 | 830,480 | -9.20% | 0.90% | -10% |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area | 36,299 | 573,527 | 38,242 | 546,807 | -5.10% | 5.20% | -10% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area | 29,112 | 535,420 | 31,775 | 526,295 | -8.40% | 2.20% | -11% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metro Area | 123,389 | 1,932,099 | 129,609 | 1,830,298 | -4.80% | 5.90% | -11% |
| Huntsville, AL Metro Area | 27,616 | 462,693 | 29,496 | 444,752 | -6.40% | 4.50% | -11% |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metro Area | 29,728 | 596,849 | 31,457 | 568,088 | -5.50% | 5.40% | -11% |
| Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area | 21,454 | 307,149 | 24,348 | 312,936 | -11.90% | -0.90% | -11% |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area | 136,256 | 1,729,114 | 151,209 | 1,723,351 | -9.90% | 1.20% | -11% |
| Merced, CA Metro Area | 20,849 | 274,765 | 22,750 | 268,455 | -8.40% | 3.10% | -11% |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area | 48,115 | 787,643 | 50,880 | 744,526 | -5.40% | 6.20% | -12% |
| Fresno, CA Metro Area | 70,459 | 994,400 | 77,535 | 974,861 | -9.10% | 2.70% | -12% |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area | 27,916 | 446,610 | 30,743 | 436,092 | -9.20% | 3.10% | -12% |
| Tallahassee, FL Metro Area | 50,384 | 387,455 | 55,190 | 378,593 | -8.70% | 3.60% | -12% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI Metro Area | 69,267 | 980,080 | 79,865 | 998,714 | -13.30% | -0.80% | -12% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY Metro Area | 70,346 | 1,130,152 | 80,348 | 1,135,230 | -12.40% | 0.40% | -13% |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metro Area | 35,192 | 494,883 | 38,719 | 478,043 | -9.10% | 4.30% | -13% |
| Montgomery, AL Metro Area | 23,347 | 373,401 | 27,049 | 375,435 | -13.70% | 0.40% | -14% |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metro Area | 22,698 | 480,891 | 23,461 | 431,964 | -3.30% | 11.50% | -15% |
| Savannah, GA Metro Area | 27,346 | 389,494 | 31,211 | 379,199 | -12.40% | 3.70% | -16% |
| Anchorage, AK Metro Area | 27,033 | 399,148 | 35,145 | 399,790 | -23.10% | 1.90% | -25% |
Data and Methodology
We determined where Gen Z is growing the most by looking at the U.S. Census American Community Survey 2018 One-Year Estimates and then at the U.S. Census American Community Survey 2015 One Year Estimates. We looked specifically at where the 18-24 year population (Gen Z) increased the most relative to the total population. In some cases the Gen Z population may have grown, but the regular population grew the same amount. We are looking specifically for cities where just the Gen Z population is growing.