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Salt Lake City may be among the most popular metro areas for Gen Zers who want large homes, high-paying jobs, and plenty of outdoor adventures. But young adults born between 1997 and 2012 aren’t afraid to cross state lines in search of new places to call home. In fact, they’re doing it more than any other generation. And according to U-Haul’s 2026 Midyear Migration Trends report, many of them are making the 13-hour drive straight to Seattle, Washington. For nature lovers, this Pacific Northwest haven offers a similar combination of bustling city life and the great outdoors.
U-Haul’s data offers a big-picture look at relocation patterns. That’s especially important for a generation still navigating college degrees, early-career opportunities, and the age-old question of where to settle down. These choices often involve buying a home, but they can also mean renting an apartment, moving in with roommates, or making another housing transition. U-Haul’s report isn’t a census of everyone who moves, since some people load everything into a car, a suitcase, or a competitor’s moving truck. However, it does capture every one-way U-Haul move across U.S. metropolitan areas with at least a million residents over a 52-week period…