MIAMI—Millennials and Baby Boomers want cities to focus less on recruiting new companies and more on investing in new transportation options, walkable communities, and making the area as attractive as possible. So says a new survey from the American Planning Association (APA).

Specifically, 65% of respondents believe investing in schools, transportation choices, and walkable areas is a better way to grow the economy than investing in recruiting companies to move to the area. Regardless of the city's size or location, 49% someday want to live in a walkable community. Only 7% want to live where they have to drive to most places.

“If there is a single message from this poll, it's that place matters,” says APA executive director Paul Farmer. “Community characteristics like affordability, transportation choices, safe streets, high-speed Internet, and housing that can accommodate others or enable you to live there as you grow older matter as much as job opportunities.”