The Blubber

Americans ditched big cities during the pandemic; now many are regretting it, per BI.


Since the onset of last year, a constant stream of news headlines, Reddit discussions, and market research polls has unveiled a significant portion of individuals who made significant life changes during the pandemic, only to express regret afterward. As rental prices surged in major cities and remote work became the norm, financially strained individuals eagerly seized the opportunity presented by an unprecedented situation to relocate. Whether it was a premeditated move like Susan's or a desire for a more affordable living situation, the reality has delivered a harsh wake-up call to many. For numerous millennial homebuyers, the shift from cities to suburbs and semi-rural areas promised more affordable housing but also meant distancing themselves from the social and professional networks cultivated in their young adulthood. Assimilating into new communities has been a challenge for some, leaving them feeling disconnected from their identities, hobbies, and the friends they left behind.

A common thread running through these stories is the pursuit of a dream that diverged significantly from expectations – the dream of a three-bedroom house with a covered front porch and ample yard space for children and pets, nestled close to nature and far from the clamor of city life. What many are discovering is that in a landscape of increasing costs and difficulty forming new social connections, the decision of where to live requires a complex set of compromises.

Millennials are disrupting traditional trends, breaking away from the conventional narrative that involved moving to the city in their early 20s, starting careers, and later settling down in the suburbs to raise a family. About a decade ago, the oldest millennials disrupted this pattern, showing a propensity to stay in cities, defying the trend of moving to the suburbs in their 30s. This delay in achieving traditional milestones like marriage, having children, and buying a home has contributed to millennials' continued urban residence. However, when the pandemic hit, some millennials defied this trend, choosing to leave cities for the suburbs, and in doing so, opted for locations that were quite distant.

Contrary to expectations, these individuals, especially older millennial homebuyers, ventured out to more peripheral suburban areas rather than opting for urbanized suburban environments. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, 54% of homebuyers aged 31 to 40 chose homes in suburbs or subdivisions between 2020 and 2021, with 31% preferring small towns or rural areas. The vast majority of these purchases, 88%, were single-family, detached homes.

The analysis by researchers, such as Riordan Frost from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, suggests that cost plays a significant role in this trend. As people seek affordable housing, they tend to move farther out from city centers when buying homes. The desire for more space at an affordable price seems to be a driving force behind many pandemic-related relocations. However, as the initial moving fervor wanes and returns to pre-pandemic levels, those who made these moves, spanning various generations, are gaining a more realistic understanding of the commitments they undertook.