Gen Zers are looking to live in simpler, quiet locations in the Midwest or mountain regions.
Emilia Mann, a senior analyst at StorageCafe, said that Gen Z doesn't have the same location preferences as older generations.
"Gen Zers are increasingly drawn to simpler living in their housing choices," Mann told Insider via email. "Unlike millennials, who often gravitate to DC, Washington, and Illinois, Gen Zers tend to favor states with lower population density, from the mountainous terrains of Montana and Idaho to the plains of Kansas and Nebraska."
Of course, part of what's driving Gen Zers to these states is the acceptance of remote work, more affordable homes, and the closeness to outdoor activities.
According to data from RentCafe, Gen Z homeowners totaled 2 million in 2022 while Gen X and millennial homeowners totaled 24.4 million and 18.2 million, respectively.
Those older generations are holding onto their homes as interest rates stay high, leading Gen Zers to find new places to live due to the lack of supply and affordability, Doug Ressler, the business intelligence manager at Yardi Matrix, told Insider.
Because Gen Z can't get into the housing market in popular cities — in both buying and renting — they're casting a wider net in their home search, Ressler said.
"We see the Gen Zers be more movement oriented, especially in long distances," Ressler said.
To determine the number of Gen Z movers, which it limited to those aged 18 to 23, StorageCafe analyzed 2021 data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample. It also used the Census data to determine the median value of owner-occupied housing. For rent values, it relied on data from Yardi Matrix.
These are the 10 states where Gen Zers are migrating to, according to StorageCafe, ranked by percentage of total newcomers who identify as members of that generation.