{"id":112412,"date":"2021-03-16T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T07:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=112412"},"modified":"2024-09-03T03:14:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T10:14:17","slug":"trending-gen-z-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/rental-market\/market-snapshots\/trending-gen-z-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"Vibrant Small Towns in America’s Heartland Are the Best Cities for Gen Z Renters"},"content":{"rendered":"

The downtown life in big coastal cities<\/a> is so last decade. That\u2019s according to the latest data that shows small towns in the heartland are among the best cities for Gen Z renters. This is especially noteworthy because Zoomers were the fastest-growing active renter segment in the U.S. last year, and their locations of choice are just the opposite of their Millennial<\/a> predecessors.<\/p>\n

According to the most recent national apartment application data, the share of Gen Z renters jumped by 36% in 2020 compared to the prior year. At the same time, the number of apartment applicants from every other generation decreased. So, to identify what types of cities the Gen Z population<\/a> prefers, we ranked cities by the highest share of applications for rent from this age group, as well as the highest year-over-year increase in Gen Z applicants.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, the trending locations preferred by Gen Z are small towns in the heartland, in the Midwest as well as in parts of the South, <\/strong>favored not only for being more affordable, but also for offering a vibrant local scene that feels authentic and closer to home for these young adults who are starting out in life in times of great uncertainty and change.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n