Ann Arbor, Michigan, ranks as the highest metropolis for Gen Z professionals, in line with a brand new survey by RentCafe.com — an condo search platform that evaluated 264 US metros.
The research narrowed the checklist to 122 metros by excluding cities with populations beneath 300,000 or missing adequate information.
Rankings had been primarily based on key Gen Z priorities like affordability, tradition, variety, surroundings and total livability.
“We put collectively this checklist to assist Gen Z grads discover cities that supply a stability between rewarding work and an excellent life,” wrote Mihaela Buzec, the report’s writer.
Metrics included the share of Gen Z residents, schooling ranges, unemployment modifications, revenue and job progress, and a composite livability index that factored in socioeconomics, neighborhood dynamics and high quality of life.
“Ann Arbor takes the highest spot with its college-town enchantment and aggressive job market,” the report famous. Town is house to the College of Michigan, which drives a gentle inflow of younger expertise and cultural exercise.
Lincoln, Nebraska, and Des Moines, Iowa, adopted intently behind.
The report highlighted a development of Gen Z professionals favoring smaller, reasonably priced cities with robust financial foundations and college presence.
“We see the shift in Gen Z’s preferences from the big city facilities to extra livable and reasonably priced locations,” the report acknowledged.
RentCafe.com informed FOX Enterprise that among the many 122 metros that ranked on the backside had been El Paso, TX; McAllen, TX; Memphis, TN; Stockton, CA; and Lafayette, LA.
“These metros ranked on the backside of the checklist not essentially as a result of they’re missing alternatives, however as a result of they don’t align with the core values of Gen Z, particularly concerning livability elements and the industries that drive the job market,” in line with Mihaela Buzec, a senior author and researcher.

“Particularly, we will have a look at metros resembling Bakersfield (#116), Modesto (#115), or Beaumont (#114), the place the principle hiring industries are agriculture, oil and gasoline, or logistics and manufacturing, not the everyday industries that Gen Zs orient themselves to,” Buzec stated.
Buzec defined additional that Gen Zs favor communities that “provide a top quality of life, with frequent cultural occasions, various leisure choices, and walkable areas,” which most of the metros that ranked low lacked.
“For example, McAllen, TX, and El Paso, TX, had the 2 lowest scores for the livability composite index in our evaluation (#122 and #121). One key demographic metric that additionally influenced this positioning is the decrease proportion of extremely educated Gen Zs from the full younger grownup inhabitants, that means there isn’t a massive driving drive for change in the meanwhile in these particular metros,” Buzec stated.
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