Census Data Verifies DC's Pull For Twenty and Thirty-Somethings

• October 27th 2011

by Shilpi Paul

New York City and San Francisco have traditionally been the cities that come to mind when people think of places where young adults flock in their post-college years. However, new census data reveals that DC is increasingly becoming a destination for this group.

The city and its surrounding suburbs gained about 7,000 new residents between the ages of 25 and 34 in each of the past three years, The Washington Post reported today. The influx of youngsters was the sixth highest among the metropolitan areas that were analyzed. (See full chart here.)

The new data follows an earlier census reveal that this youngish demographic not only makes up almost one-third of the city’s 600,000 residents, but was also largely responsible for DC’s growth in the past decade. The young people are also sticking around. In the past, the city has served as a temporary landing pad for ambitious go-getters before they bought homes in more affordable areas. Now, with a depressed job market in much of the country, this group has less incentive to leave stable DC.

From The Post:

The new order reflects the Washington region’s relatively resilient economy as other parts of the country floundered, racking up job losses and foreclosures after the recession began in late 2007. But some demographers also cited Washington’s emerging reputation as a cool place for young adults to live.

“It’s the economy and hipness,” said William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution, who analyzed the census data comparing the 2005 to 2007 period with 2008 to 2010. “Young people are going to places that have a certain vibe. If there’s a recession, they want to ride it out in a place like that.”

The trend evidenced by the Census data may not come as a surprise to UrbanTurf readers. While we may not be as cool as Portland, Ore. (a city that media outlets have fallen in love with in recent years), 14th Street and the H Street Corridor and many neighborhoods in between are filled with young professionals that appear to be staying put…no matter how high the rent may be.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc_is_officially_cool_new_census_data_verifies_citys_draw/4457.