<!-- wp:html --><p>Badlands National Park in South Dakota.</p>
<p class="copyright">Adam Hester/Getty Images</p>
<p>Gen Z is looking beyond more crowded states for places where there's elbow room and affordability.<br />
Older generations aren't selling homes, making it hard for Gen Z to get into more popular markets.<br />
The younger generation is okay moving longer distances to find more comfortable living arrangements.</p>
<p>Gen Zers are looking to live in simpler, quiet locations in the Midwest or mountain regions. </p>
<p>Emilia Mann, a senior analyst at StorageCafe, said that Gen Z doesn't have the same location preferences as older generations.</p>
<p>"Gen Zers are increasingly drawn to simpler living in their housing choices," Mann told Insider via email. "Unlike millennials, who often gravitate to DC, Washington, and Illinois, Gen Zers tend to favor states with lower population density, from the mountainous terrains of Montana and Idaho to the plains of Kansas and Nebraska."</p>
<p>Of course, part of what's driving Gen Zers to these states is the acceptance of remote work, more affordable homes, and the closeness to outdoor activities.</p>
<p>According to data from RentCafe, <a href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/millennials-switch-renter-to-owner-majority/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gen Z homeowners totaled 2 million in 2022</a> while Gen X and millennial homeowners totaled 24.4 million and 18.2 million, respectively. </p>
<p>Those older generations are holding onto their homes as interest rates stay high, leading Gen Zers to find new places to live due to the lack of supply and affordability, Doug Ressler, the business intelligence manager at Yardi Matrix, told Insider.</p>
<p>Because Gen Z can't get into the housing market in popular cities — in both buying and renting — they're casting a wider net in their home search, Ressler said.</p>
<p>"We see the Gen Zers be more movement oriented, especially in long distances," Ressler said.</p>
<p>To determine the number of Gen Z movers, which it limited to those aged 18 to 23, StorageCafe analyzed 2021 data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample. It also used the Census data to determine the median value of owner-occupied housing. For rent values, it relied on data from Yardi Matrix.</p>
<p>These are the 10 states where Gen Zers are migrating to, according to StorageCafe, ranked by percentage of total newcomers who identify as members of that generation. </p>
<div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">10. Indiana</div>
<div class="slide-image">Madison, Indiana.
<p class="copyright">larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 13%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>109,271</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$182,338</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,229</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>3.2%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">9. Nebraska</div>
<div class="slide-image">Omaha, Nebraska.
<p class="copyright">Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 13%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>31,092</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$202,183</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,206</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>1.9%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">8. Montana</div>
<div class="slide-image">Basin, Montana.
<p class="copyright">Finetooth/Wikimedia Commons</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 14%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>18,975</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$319,228</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,578</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.4%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">7. Utah</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ogden, Utah.
<p class="copyright">mandicoleman.com/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 14%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>61,652</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$420,639</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,618</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.4%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">6. Wisconsin</div>
<div class="slide-image">Madison, Wisconsin.
<p class="copyright">Walter Bibikow/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 14%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>93,323</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$230,209</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,459</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.5%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">5. Kansas</div>
<div class="slide-image">Overland Park, Kansas.
<p class="copyright">Shripad Josh/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 14%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>59,638</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$185,298</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,165</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.8%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">4. Iowa</div>
<div class="slide-image">Holstein, Iowa.
<p class="copyright">larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 14%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>58,515</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$176,095</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,164</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.7%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">3. Idaho</div>
<div class="slide-image">Boise, Idaho.
<p class="copyright">Darwin Fan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 15%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>41,351</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$366,120</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,595</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2.7%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">2. North Dakota</div>
<div class="slide-image">Medora, North Dakota.
<p class="copyright">Jacob Boomsma/iStock/Getty Images Plus</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 15%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>19,555</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$219,939</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,044</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>2%</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">1. South Dakota</div>
<div class="slide-image">Deadwood, South Dakota.
<p class="copyright">Carolyn Hebbard/ Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><strong>Gen Z percentage of total move-ins:</strong> 16%</p>
<p><strong>Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: </strong>20,703</p>
<p><strong>Home value: </strong>$213,472</p>
<p><strong>Average rent: </strong>$1,096</p>
<p><strong>Unemployment rate: </strong>1.8%</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/genz-moving-10-states-midwest-mountains-dakotas-idaho-iowa-utah-2023-10">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->
Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
Adam Hester/Getty Images
Gen Z is looking beyond more crowded states for places where there’s elbow room and affordability.
Older generations aren’t selling homes, making it hard for Gen Z to get into more popular markets.
The younger generation is okay moving longer distances to find more comfortable living arrangements.
Gen Zers are looking to live in simpler, quiet locations in the Midwest or mountain regions.
Emilia Mann, a senior analyst at StorageCafe, said that Gen Z doesn’t have the same location preferences as older generations.
“Gen Zers are increasingly drawn to simpler living in their housing choices,” Mann told Insider via email. “Unlike millennials, who often gravitate to DC, Washington, and Illinois, Gen Zers tend to favor states with lower population density, from the mountainous terrains of Montana and Idaho to the plains of Kansas and Nebraska.”
Of course, part of what’s driving Gen Zers to these states is the acceptance of remote work, more affordable homes, and the closeness to outdoor activities.
Those older generations are holding onto their homes as interest rates stay high, leading Gen Zers to find new places to live due to the lack of supply and affordability, Doug Ressler, the business intelligence manager at Yardi Matrix, told Insider.
Because Gen Z can’t get into the housing market in popular cities — in both buying and renting — they’re casting a wider net in their home search, Ressler said.
“We see the Gen Zers be more movement oriented, especially in long distances,” Ressler said.
To determine the number of Gen Z movers, which it limited to those aged 18 to 23, StorageCafe analyzed 2021 data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample. It also used the Census data to determine the median value of owner-occupied housing. For rent values, it relied on data from Yardi Matrix.
These are the 10 states where Gen Zers are migrating to, according to StorageCafe, ranked by percentage of total newcomers who identify as members of that generation.
10. Indiana
Madison, Indiana.
larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 13%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 109,271
Home value: $182,338
Average rent: $1,229
Unemployment rate: 3.2%
9. Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska.
Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 13%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 31,092
Home value: $202,183
Average rent: $1,206
Unemployment rate: 1.9%
8. Montana
Basin, Montana.
Finetooth/Wikimedia Commons
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 14%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 18,975
Home value: $319,228
Average rent: $1,578
Unemployment rate: 2.4%
7. Utah
Ogden, Utah.
mandicoleman.com/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 14%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 61,652
Home value: $420,639
Average rent: $1,618
Unemployment rate: 2.4%
6. Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin.
Walter Bibikow/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 14%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 93,323
Home value: $230,209
Average rent: $1,459
Unemployment rate: 2.5%
5. Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas.
Shripad Josh/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 14%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 59,638
Home value: $185,298
Average rent: $1,165
Unemployment rate: 2.8%
4. Iowa
Holstein, Iowa.
larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 14%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 58,515
Home value: $176,095
Average rent: $1,164
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
3. Idaho
Boise, Idaho.
Darwin Fan/Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 15%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 41,351
Home value: $366,120
Average rent: $1,595
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
2. North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota.
Jacob Boomsma/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 15%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 19,555
Home value: $219,939
Average rent: $1,044
Unemployment rate: 2%
1. South Dakota
Deadwood, South Dakota.
Carolyn Hebbard/ Getty Images
Gen Z percentage of total move-ins: 16%
Number of Gen Zers who moved to the state in 2021: 20,703
