Nearly half of young adults in San Francisco think about leaving
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Nearly half of San Francisco's young, childless adults are thinking about packing up and leaving, a new survey finds.
Why it matters: Lots of young people considering a move can signal bigger issues for a city, like a lack of perceived job opportunities or affordable housing, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes.
Driving the news: We weren't the worst. Baltimore tops the list, with about 62% of young adults saying they're "likely" or "very likely" to leave — compared to 45% in San Francisco.
- The findings, which were part of a broader report, come from Gensler's survey of about 2,200 residents ages 18–34 with no children across 27 major U.S cities conducted between July and November 2024.
- The question was open-ended, with no particular time frame on when respondents were actually thinking about moving.
The other side: Our neighbors to the south in sunny San Diego have the smallest share of young adults looking to leave — about 27%.
Between the lines: Young people with no kids — a particularly mobile demographic — think about moving cities for a variety of reasons, including career growth, affordability, housing costs and more.
Zoom in: In San Francisco, many of those realities ring true.
- While the AI boom may be driving a new wave of investment and jobs, the city's high cost of living and housing, negative perceptions of its dating scene, layoffs in the tech industry and familiar tropes about crime, public safety and homelessness have made staying among some a tougher sell.
My thought bubble: Sure, it's expensive, and like any big city, finding community can be tough. But few places rival San Francisco's eccentric character, culture and everyday charm. Those eyeing the exit don't know just how good they've got it.
We want to hear from you: Are you a 20-something thinking about skipping town? Tell us why at [email protected].