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More Renters Migrate to “Feeder Cities” in 2021
Household migration continued strong in 2021, fueled by pandemic restrictions, increasing household sizes and different job opportunities. According to StorageCafe, renter interest also grew. Renter applications increased by 10% between 2021 and 2022.
What’s interesting to note is that while urban areas continued attracting renters, smaller feeder cities and suburbs ended up as targets for apartment hunters. In analyzing inbound and outbound net renter migration, StorageCafe determined that Texas, in general and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, in particular were at the top of the list in attracting renters during 2021
The two “top-feeder” cities in DFW were Irving (five miles from downtown Dallas) and Lewisville (about 20 miles to the northwest of the Dallas CBD). Both cities are benefitting from renters moving from the city of Dallas. StorageCafe indicted that while Texas has been making headlines as a top relocation destination for Californians, it’s also a popular state for many state-to-state moves.
Florida also ended up on the StorageCafe in-migration renters list. While the city reported the highest outbound migration as a percentage of the population, 1.5 more renters were moving in than departing. Other highlights from the report include the following:
- Arlington and Alexandria, VA are attracting millennial renters from Washington, DC because of more space and the potential for higher earnings. Speaking of which, while DC is “leaking millennials,” it’s attracting Generation Z renters.
- In the northeast, Jersey City proved to be a magnet for renters in 2021, with the majority of them coming from New York. StorageCafe indicated that Jersey City’s active job market and larger apartments were huge draws.
- Boulder, CO and Temple, AZ, both college towns, saw greater net migration of renters from Denver and Phoenix, respectively.
- Flyover states—specifically, the Dakotas, Nebraska and to an extent, Illinois—boasted more renter arrivers over renter departures.
StorageCafe also interviewed experts on the topic, most of whom indicated that the pandemic shifted the way in which people work and where they could work. The experts also indicated that working from home could continue driving migration trends, with younger cohorts more likely to relocate.
- ◦Lease
- ◦Economy
- ◦Recruitment
