Idaho’s getting younger. Here’s how many from each generation are moving to the Gem State
Idaho consistently finds itself among the top states for population growth, from more people driving U-Haul trucks into the Gem State than out of it, to a University of Idaho study finding one in four people are new to the state.
But Idaho’s population isn’t just getting bigger. It’s getting younger, too.
A new study by Today’s Homeowner, a home improvement television show that’s run since 1988, broke down how many people from each generation are moving to different cities and states.
The study used data from the United States Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and characterized each generation as the following:
Generation Z: Ages 18 to 24
Millennials: Ages 25 to 44
Generation X: Ages 45 to 54
Baby Boomers: Ages 55 to 74
Silent Generation: Ages 75+
Idaho had a total net migration of 31,572 newcomers into the state in 2021, with the largest group being millennials. Here are how many people from each generation moved into the state:
Generation Z: 3,068
Millennials: 11,247
Gen X: 5,996
Baby Boomers: 9,093
Silent Generation: 2,168
“Idaho is also a great place to live because the standard of living is high, the cost of living is relatively low, and there is still reasonable housing,” Doug McIntier, a U-Haul area district vice president who oversees five states, including Idaho, previously stated in a news release. “I see people from California and Texas relocating to Idaho for affordability.”
He attributed the continued growth to the new Micron Technology Inc. plant planned for Boise and the Idaho National Laboratory, which employs over 5,700 researchers and support staff.
But the influx of new residents has also made Boise one of the least affordable housing markets in the United States. The median price of an Ada County home in the first half of 2022 was $579,900, according to previous Statesman reporting.
But it’s not all young people moving to Idaho. Baby Boomers were the second-largest group relocating to the state, and Boise was a hot spot. The City of Trees welcomed 1,117 Baby Boomers in 2021, which was the 8th-largest of any city in the nation.
Who is moving nationwide?
Beyond the Gem State, the study found that warmer climates are the current main attraction for all generations. In order, the top five states that saw a net-positive migration were Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona and South Carolina.
Meanwhile, the northeast has seen the most significant exodus, and major metropolitan areas suffered population losses for each generation aside from Gen Z. The study found that Gen Z was the only generation to buck the trend of people moving to warmer climates and cheaper markets.
For example, the top five largest cities in the U.S. — New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia — all had net migration increases for Gen Z while every other generation flocked away.
“The younger generations appear to be more interested in an area’s opportunities and dynamism rather than its value,” the study details. “However, millennials also appear to value lower home costs more than their younger sibling generation.
“These trends among younger Americans make sense when considering where they are in life,” it continued, “likely looking to build career momentum or settle down into a family home.”
