Mausam Bhatt Chief Product and Technology Officer | realtors.com
Millennials are increasingly considering political views when deciding where to live, according to a recent survey by Realtor.com. The study found that 33% of millennials consider national politics very or extremely influential in their relocation decisions, surpassing the 23% average across all age groups. Gen Z adults follow with 25%, while Gen X and baby boomers report lower percentages at 21% and 16%, respectively.
Additionally, 28% of millennials have contemplated moving due to misaligned political views with their current community, compared to just 17% of the general population and 20% of Gen Z. Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones explains this trend: “While Gen Z is known for being very politically active, when it comes to making decisions about where to live, more millennials are likely to be in a phase of life where they are thinking about the type of community in which they want to buy a home and grow their roots.”
The survey also highlights that liberals are more concerned about the political alignment of their neighbors than conservatives or moderates. Thirty-four percent of liberals find it crucial to reside in politically aligned areas, compared with 27% of conservatives and 15% of moderates.
Nicholas Parés, a millennial who recently moved from Denver to Austin, shared his perspective on how politics influence relocation choices. While acknowledging that politics matter, he emphasized other priorities such as work and family: “If I was moving to a new area, [politics] would certainly be a consideration. But I personally think there are other reasons, like work and family—those two things are higher priorities than politics.”
Frequent voters show similar tendencies; they rate politics highly when choosing where to live. Among them, 31% find it essential for their political views to align with those around them, compared with occasional (17%) and inactive voters (8%).
The poll conducted by Morning Consult for Realtor.com involved 2,203 adults aged 18 and over between September 13-14, 2024. It was weighted for gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region.
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