Dallas a Top Draw for Gen Z and Millennial Movers
The metro ranks No. 2 for millennials and No. 5 for Gen Z in a new report on where young adults are moving.
Dallas is the only metro in the country to rank among the top five destinations for both Gen Z and millennials, according to a new Redfin analysis.
The Dallas metro gained 13,072 millennials and 6,944 Gen Z adults through net migration in 2024, meaning more members of each generation moved in than moved out. The analysis uses U.S. Census Bureau data to track adults moving between metro areas.
Texas claimed several of the leading spots. San Antonio topped the Gen Z ranking, with Austin also in the top five. Houston was the only metro to surpass Dallas in millennial net migration.
Dallas’ appeal to young movers stretches back at least a decade. Dallas and Austin also ranked among the top five destinations for millennials in 2014, when they were the youngest adults in the analysis. They were the only two metros to appear on both that list and the 2024 list for Gen Z.
Different Priorities, Different Destinations
“Gen Zers are chasing opportunity, while millennials are chasing space,” said Sheharyar Bokhari, a principal economist at Redfin.
For Gen Z, college, early career opportunities and social connections can play a major role in where people move. Millennials’ leading destinations tend to be large employment centers where housing costs less than in expensive coastal markets, making homeownership and additional space more attainable, according to Redfin.
Washington, D.C., illustrated that divide. It was the second-most popular destination for Gen Z but had one of the largest net losses of millennials. Redfin described the capital as a launching point for recent graduates, with some older adults moving elsewhere as their careers become established and their housing needs change.
Many movers stayed within their existing region. About 6,900 Gen Z adults moved from Houston to Dallas, while roughly 7,600 moved from Dallas to Austin. Both were among the nation’s 10 most common routes for that generation.
Young Adults Are Moving Less Often
Young adults were also less likely to move between metros than they were a decade earlier. Among 19- to 24-year-olds, the share making such a move fell from 15.3% in 2014 to 13.5% in 2024. For those ages 25 to 34, it dropped from 10.6% to 8.6%.
Redfin pointed to remote work, which can allow young adults to start or change jobs without relocating, and high housing costs that may discourage some would-be movers.