Gen Z Exhibits Higher Mobility Than Older Generations, Shifting U.S. Population Dynamics
A new study by LendingTree, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, reveals that Generation Z adults are significantly more mobile than older generations, with 23.9% of adult Gen Zers (aged 18-27 in 2024) moving across state lines in 2024. This figure is considerably higher than the 14% for Millennials, 7.2% for Gen X, and 5.2% for Baby Boomers. South Carolina emerged as the most popular destination, gaining a net of 22,843 Gen Z adults, followed by Missouri, Washington D.C., Tennessee, and Arizona. Conversely, California experienced the largest net loss of Gen Z adults, with 186,827 leaving the state, although it also attracted the second-highest number of Gen Z movers nationally. Education is a key driver for this movement, with 38.1% of inter-state Gen Z movers attending college.