- Some Americans are moving to the Midwest, lured by lower costs and affordable housing.
- Many of these new residents are single Gen Zers, millennials and college students.
- New residents tend to earn more than the Midwest median income and could reshape social norms.
In recent years, Americans have been rebuilding across the country. For some, that means flocking to the Midwest and its promises of cheaper living, more space and friendly neighbors.
While the initial pandemic hit on Midwest residents has slowed a bit, Its population level is still above pre-pandemic highs. Ultimately, if you're looking for an affordable cost of living — or hoping to put up your first home — the Midwest might be the place to be.
So who's moving to the Midwest? It appears that a large number of college-age Americans are moving out, as are millennials — showing that there are, indeed, some new kids in town.
Gen Zers, the oldest of whom are 27, make up the largest percentage of commuters, followed by millennials, who top out at age 43.
Some of those Gen Zers and millennials — and Gen Xers, who aren't flocking to the Midwest at the same rate but still make up a respectable chunk of the movers — seem to be bringing kids, too. Just over 11% of commuters are part of Gen Alpha. Even so, commuters are still skewed towards young workers and early-age students.
Just over half of the movers have not completed a degree, with 27% having a high school diploma but less than a bachelor's degree—suggesting, again, that the Midwest is seeing an influx of students.
Indeed, 18% of commuters were neither renters nor homeowners, implying that they were probably living in dormitories. But young Midwesterners were overwhelmingly renting: 53 percent are renters, compared to about 29 percent who own homes.
These new Midwest renters pay, on average, about $1,416 in rent. This is lower than the country's median asking rent, as calculated by Redfinof $1,967.
Among Midwestern movers who are homeowners, homes are worth — on average — about $327,884. Per the Census Servicethe median sales price of a home sold in the U.S. was $417,700 as of the fourth quarter of 2023 — again showing that the Midwest may be more affordable for younger movers trying to either save on rent or finally afford a down payment.
In addition, transplants after 2020 are reshaping the appearance of dating and socializing. This means an attitude that focuses on long-term, meaningful partnerships, but also on some class differences between young people. Commuters over 15 earn, on average, about $43,000 a year, while those 25 and over earn just under $53,360. As of 2022, the median personal income in the Midwest census tract was $40,850, according to Census Service. And those higher earners seem ready to hook up, with nearly 47% single.
Many movers come from California, Florida and Texas. Coloradoans are also making their way to the Midwest, as are Kentuckians. On the East Coast, commuters come primarily from New York, with a more modest influx making the commute from Massachusetts.
Americans in these regions face their own cost issues, making the Midwest, once again, an attractive destination. As Business Insider previously reported , Texans — who have seen their own influx of new movers in search of cheaper housing and a lower cost of living — have been looking for homes in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
James McClure, product manager and native Texan, moved with his wife from Texas to Wisconsin in December 2023, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported. McClure is technically taking a pay cut to make the move, but he told Lloyd he's saving more money.
“We live within blocks of most of the things we need and have plenty of space for both of us to work from home,” McClure told Lloyd. “They all have the same appraised value — a little less, actually — than our 1970s-era house in the Austin suburbs.”
Did you move to the Midwest, or elsewhere in the country to save money or shake things up? Contact this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com.
Correction: February 27, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated James McClure's move. He is a native Texan who moved to Wisconsin.
