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Why Millennials Don’t Live Where You’d Expect Them To

Young people want to be able to afford the trappings of adulthood
Data show that the millennial population in Bakersfield, Calif., has grown nearly 40 percent in recent years.

Data show that the millennial population in Bakersfield, Calif., has grown nearly 40 percent in recent years.

Amy Meredith/Flickr

Millennials are the most mobile generation in the U.S., and plenty of analysis has been devoted to figuring out their best and worst relocation options. But while they do a lot of moving, the reasons why may be more complicated than a ranked list can capture, according to new data from Livability, a website that tracks public opinion about cities and suburban areas. The survey, conducted by market-research firm Ipsos Public Affairs for Livability, asked more than 2,000 adults which characteristics of a place factored into their job decisions.

Only 21 percent of millennials, those age 18 to 34, said they would first pick a place to live, and then find a job. The same share of young people said they’d choose a job and move wherever necessary to get paid.