CRE Myths: Millennials Don’t Always Prefer The City To The Suburbs

Darin Mellott, CBRE
Darin Mellott/CBRE

CBRE has set the record straight—most Millennials are not city-flocking suburbia haters.

In a recent study, the firm dispels the myth that American suburbs are dying, saying that statement is grossly exaggerated. Recent census data shows 30% percent of Millennials live within urban areas—and the remaining 70% are in no rush to move downtown. According to US Census data, the nation is less urban than it was in 2000.

“Of course there’s been a lot of articles written about how Millennials love cities, are ditching cars and don’t want to own homes—and that dialogue has taken on a life of its own. But that’s not exactly the way that it is across the whole country,” CBRE director of research and analysis Darin Mellott (pictured) tells Bisnow.

Suburbia

In truth, Millennials continue to favor suburban markets. In 2014, 529,000 individuals between the ages of 25 and 29 moved to suburbia from downtown, while 426,000 did the opposite, according to US Census data.

And Darin tells us that suburban markets are increasingly morphing into hybrid “hipsturbias” or “urban burbs”—this trend can be seen in major markets like Phoenix and Los Angeles. With suburbs increasing walkability and access to public transportation, while simultaneously making a plethora of amenities available, these markets have become equally, if not more appealing than the city, the data suggests.

“This prevailing narrative [about Millennial preferences] isn’t entirely true,” Darin says. “And like so many other things, the story is more nuanced, each market has its own dynamics and these stories play out in different ways across the markets.”

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Augmentation, Not Replacement: How AI Platforms Are Streamlining Front Desk Teams

Lawmakers Punt On Stripping Approvals From 15 Projects In Data Center Alley

Success Of Top-Tier Malls Masks Enduring Distress In Sector's Underbelly

HUD Launches Investigation Into Wells Fargo's Efforts To Support Black Homeownership

Delaware Statutory Trust Fundraising Jumps 27% From 2025

Bank OZK Shares Drop After Citi Flags $915M Mortgage Concern

Soaring Yields Strand REITs In M&A No-Man's-Land

How UK Investment Giant L&G Plans To Grow Its U.S. Multifamily Holdings

Properties Owned By REIT Accused Of Fraud To Be Auctioned Off

LS Power Raises $6B To Capitalize On Data Center Power Demand

DHS Buys 3 More Detention Facilities From The Geo Group For $950M

CRE Finance Sentiment Index Falls To 3-Year Low As Economic Fears Mount