Among major cities, Atlanta has the fifth-highest share of child-free young adults thinking about packing up and leaving, a new survey finds.
Driving the news: Atlanta ranks fifth on the list, with 50% of young adults saying they’re “likely” or “very likely” to leave town.
- The findings come from Gensler’s survey of about 2,200 residents aged 18-34 with no children across 27 major U.S cities and conducted between July and November 2024.
- The question was open-ended, with no particular time frame on when respondents were thinking about moving.
- The findings are part of a broader report from the design and architecture firm’s research wing, City Pulse 2025: The Magnetic City.
Zoom out: Baltimore ranks the highest with 62%, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina (about 58%), Miami (52%) and Detroit (52%).
- On the other end, San Diego (about 27%), Boston (28%) and Chicago (36%) have comparatively small shares of young adults with an eye toward the exit.
Between the lines: Young people with no kids — a particularly mobile demographic — think about moving cities for a variety of reasons, including career growth, cost of living and more…