Moving to the suburbs is becoming increasingly popular not just among older Americans but younger groups as well. As they go, the southern states like Texas have been well represented.
Millennials, which includes individuals born from 1981 to 1996, love the appeal of the suburban lifestyle the most, according to a research report from StorageCafe.
“Most of whom are in the parenting stage of their lives, the need for larger homes and outdoor spaces is paramount,” the firm said.
“This shift is further compounded by the rise of remote work, which has diminished the necessity of living close to urban job centers, making suburban and exurban living more feasible and attractive than ever.”
In the past 10 years, Texas and Florida are home to 12 of the 20 fastest-growing suburbs in the country, according to StorageCafe, which considered nearly 4,100 cities in the research. Of those, seven belong to the Lone Star State. The move to those areas is coming from those who lived in California and New York. They have been attracted to warmer weather, lower taxes, theme parks, and other hot spots.
Where they move exactly could depend on what type of work or lifestyle they are seeking. For example, Dallas is a leading choice for those looking for work in the metroplex. More tech-heavy and cosmopolitan job seekers will look towards Houston and Austin. Meanwhile, seniors are attracted to villages in Florida, due to their retirement-friendly areas.
Additionally, the lower tax environment is attracting businesses. Since 2020, more than 100 companies have relocated to Texas including Elon Musk’s electric vehicle empire firm, Tesla, the report cited.
Along with millennials, even Gen Z is feeling the suburban vibe too. Among the top 10 states that the age group is moving to are North Dakota, Alabama, Colorado, and Utah.
As far as the housing market goes, inventory has grown a national average of 15 percent in the last decade, which has led to an increased population in certain areas. Vineyard, Utah has led the way with its population skyrocketing by more than 7,000 percent during that time frame.
That’s followed by Blackwells Mills, New Jersey, and Fulshear, Texas, which shot up by 1,980 percent and 1,138 percent respectively. Several other places in Texas and Florida cracked the top 10 including Palmview, Melissa, Celina, Horizon West, and Nocatee.
While moves to the suburbs have picked up momentum, Jake Wegman, professor at the University of Texas at Austin, in providing expert opinion to StorageCafe, hesitated to “call it a firm trend.”
But he said, “we could instead say that suburban growth in Texas reflects changes in America as a whole, including racial/ethnic diversification and a hunger for lifestyle amenities.”