The 25 best suburbs for young millennials
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
The 25 best suburbs for young millennials
Boston Metro station on Beacon Street in Brookline.
Big cities have always attracted people who are starting over—or just starting out. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend toward moving to suburbs emerged, especially among millennials, those who were born between 1981 and 1996.
Although suburbs are often dismissed as uncool or sleepy, they have recently become more popular among millennials as a comparatively affordable alternative to city life. Suburban areas boosted in popularity during the pandemic when more people were able to work from home, according to Census Bureau findings—so much so that suburban housing prices increased more quickly than housing in metropolitan areas during the pandemic.
Even when millennials move from cities to suburbs, though, they’re often looking for some of the comforts and lifestyle habits they’re leaving behind. Mixed-use walkable developments in suburbs have been a major draw for millennials who don’t want to give up the ease of getting around cities. In recent years, suburbs have also seen an increase per capita of critically acclaimed restaurants, bars, and coffee shops—showing millennials that cities aren’t the only places with cultural appeal. Take Somerville, Massachusetts, for example, which boasts a wide variety of well-regarded eateries and cafes and close proximity to prestigious universities as well as big area employers, like Tufts, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In fact, Somerville ranks among the best suburbs for young millennials, according to a list compiled by New Jersey Real Estate Network using data from Niche. The list ranked suburbs—cities located outside of a principal city but still in an urbanized area—based on various factors, including access to bars, restaurants, and coffee shops; walkability; and the cost of living.
Many of the suburbs on this list are located outside major coastal cities such as Boston and Los Angeles, which have more expensive housing compared to the rest of the country. Look closely at each suburb on this list, and you’ll find plenty that appeals to millennials—and maybe even inspiration for your next move.
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#25. Lauderdale, Minnesota
Interior of busy cafe with customers on computers.
– Closest major city: Minneapolis
– Population: 2,479
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#24. Inverness, Colorado
Woman coming home with bags full of fresh groceries.
– Closest major city: Denver
– Population: 2,342
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#23. Maplewood, Missouri
Young couple running in the park with their dog.
– Closest major city: St. Louis
– Population: 8,220
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#22. Brentwood, Missouri
Rear view shot of young couple carrying boxes in new home.
– Closest major city: St. Louis
– Population: 8,198
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#21. Royal Oak, Michigan
Woman riding a bike on a park trail.
– Closest major city: Detroit
– Population: 58,368
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#20. Watertown, Massachusetts
Aerial of the historic city center of Watertown.
– Closest major city: Boston
– Population: 35,171
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#19. Richmond Heights, Missouri
Front door and porch of a house.
– Closest major city: St. Louis
– Population: 9,188
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#18. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Young sitting at a desk and laughingwhile working on a computer.
– Closest major city: Philadelphia
– Population: 1,407
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#17. Berkeley, California
Aerial view of residential neighborhood Berkeley.
– Closest major city: San Francisco
– Population: 119,607
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#16. Addison, Texas
Back view of a woman using a key to open front door.
– Closest major city: Dallas
– Population: 16,405
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#15. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Young couple moving a couch inside.
– Closest major city: Philadelphia
– Population: 9,104
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#14. Vinings, Georgia
Customers waiting at counter in a busy modern coffee shop.
– Closest major city: Atlanta
– Population: 12,793
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#13. Arlington, Virginia
Freedom Park and modern buildings in Rosslyn.
– Closest major city: Washington D.C.
– Population: 235,764
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#12. Santa Monica, California
Sunset view in Santa Monica.
– Closest major city: Los Angeles
– Population: 92,828
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#11. North Druid Hills, Georgia
Businesswoman with a cup of coffee leaving house.
– Closest major city: Atlanta
– Population: 18,143
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#10. Hermosa Beach, California
Colorful morning skies across Hermosa Beach.
– Closest major city: Los Angeles
– Population: 19,787
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#9. Grandview Heights, Ohio
Woman seen through glass window smiling while having coffee with friend.
– Closest major city: Columbus, Ohio
– Population: 8,099
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#8. Edgewater, New Jersey
Aerial of Edgewater, New Jersey.
– Closest major city: New York
– Population: 14,234
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#7. Brookline, Massachusetts
Boston Metro station on Beacon Street in Brookline.
– Closest major city: Boston
– Population: 62,620
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#6. West Hollywood, California
Aerial photo of West Hollywood.
– Closest major city: Los Angeles
– Population: 35,678
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#5. Emeryville, California
Emeryville Marina before sunset, with dramatic clouds.
– Closest major city: Oakland, California
– Population: 12,747
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#4. Ferndale, Michigan
Man coming home and opening front door of apartment.
– Closest major city: Detroit
– Population: 19,414
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#3. Somerville, Massachusetts
The skyline of downtown Boston as seen from the Prospect Hill Tower in Somerville.
– Closest major city: Boston
– Population: 80,608
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#2. Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Broad Canal in Cambridge.
– Closest major city: Boston
– Population: 116,892
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#1. Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey waterfront and skyline from the Hudson River.
– Closest major city: New York
– Population: 59,369
This story originally appeared on New Jersey Real Estate Network and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
