Where are millennials moving in WA? These 2 cities saw population spikes
Millennials are looking for new places to live — and many of them are relocating to cities in Washington state.
That’s according to personal finance website SmartAsset, which recently ranked the most popular cities for transplants ages 25 to 44.
“Many millennial households opt to move locations in pursuit of job opportunities, higher pay, preferable lifestyles and family considerations,” Jaclyn DeJohn, SmartAsset director of economic analysis, wrote in a Feb. 13 article.
These moves can have a big impact on the economy, according to SmartAsset.
“Locations that can attract millennials may benefit from stronger and more diverse workforces,” DeJohn said, plus additional spending at local businesses and tax revenue.
Here’s where millennials are moving in Washington state, and why:
How many millennials are in Washington State?
According to SmartAsset, Seattle saw the second-highest “injection of millennial transplants” in the nation, trailing behind Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Millennials made up 43.4% of Seattle’s total population in 2024, the SmartAsset study found, with a total of 335,224 residents born between the years 1982 and 2001.
About 11.49% of Seattle residents in 2024 were millennials who moved that year, SmartAsset said.
Of those millennial transplants, a total of 54,910 moved to Seattle from a different city in King County, according to the study.
A total of 7,450 millennial movers relocated from a different Washington county, SmartAsset said, while 23,137 came from a different U.S. state and 4,257 came from a different country.
Why are millennials moving to Seattle?
According to experts, there are several factors attracting millennials to the Emerald City — including a strong job market and a thriving economy.
“Seattle is one of the best U.S. cities for young people to find employment,” moving company Pods said in a 2019 article.
Pods cited Seattle’s “fantastic access to nature and outdoor recreation” as another draw.
“Seattle earns its nickname as the Emerald City for the thousands of acres of green space spread throughout the urban area,” the moving company said. “Offering activities ranging from kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing in the Sound and local lakes to hiking, biking and exploring both urban and nearby national parks and forests, Seattle is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground.”
Mary Pong Real Estate said millennials are also attracted to Seattle’s cultural diversity, progressive values and “strong sense of community,” as well as the city’s culinary scene and plethora of professional sports teams.
Did any other Washington cities make the list?
According to SmartAsset, another Washington city was a hotspot for millennials looking to move.
Bellevue was No. 7 on the personal finance website’s list of the top 10 cities with the most millennial transplants.
Millennials accounted for 37.1% of Bellevue’s total population in 2024, SmartAsset said, with a total of 56,922 residents aged 25 to 44.
About 10.56% of Bellevue residents in 2024 were millennials who moved that year, according to the study.
What are the top 10 cities for millennial transplants?
These were the top 10 destinations for millennials looking to relocate, according to SmartAsset:
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Seattle, Washington
- Sunnyvale, California
- Orlando, Florida
- Arlington, Virginia
- Austin, Texas
- Bellevue, Washington
- Sandy Springs, Georgia
- Denver, Colorado
- Santa Clara, California
How did SmartAsset rank top destinations for millennials?
To determine where millennials are moving the most, SmartAsset said it looked at data for 254 of the largest U.S. cities.
The personal finance website ranked cities based on the percentage of the total population represented by millennials who moved into the city in 2024.
Data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024.
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Where are millennials moving in WA? These 2 cities saw population spikes."