Greenville’s State of the East (Madison Forsey, WNCT photo)
GREENVILLE, North Carolina – New research by an apartment listing service finds that Greenville, North Carolina is the trendiest city in the nation for Gen-Z renters.
RENTCafé sourced data based on rental applications processed by RentGrow. Gen Z is defined
as the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012 while Millennials are the generate born between 1981 and 1996. Greenville places first in the ranking, having seen the sharpest spike in apartment applications submitted by Gen-Z in 2020, showing an 84% increase.
With less than 100,000 residents, researchers say that Greenville is the only college town in this ranking. The study defined “college towns” as cities or towns where the percentage of out-of-town residents aged 18-24 is above 25% or the percentage of residents enrolled in college is above 25%, as per U.S. Census data. Researchers add that Greenville has established itself as a great community to live in and to launch a career.
“This ranking is another example of the livability and affordability we have here in Greenville and Pitt County,” explains Greenville ENC Alliance president and CEO Steve Weathers. “Our area, home to East Carolina University and Pitt Community College, is positioned to help young people thrive and succeed. As they rent homes or apartments, attend higher educational programs, or begin their careers, we want to retain them. There is a place for them in our workforce and community long term.”
The trendiest Gen Z cities are concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast. Nine of the 20 cities on this list are located in the Midwest and eight are in the South. Notably, they are small and mid-sized cities and towns, most with fewer than 300,000 residents, a relatively low cost of living, and apartment rents less than the national average, which is around $1,400.
“It is easier in these places for people to take risks to becoming small business owners and contributing to the local economy and culture,” said Jill Ann Harrison, a sociology professor at the University of Oregon. “These smaller markets offer an opportunity for younger adults not just live in a place, but to help to create or contribute to it in meaningful ways. In turn, many of these smaller cities have a truer sense of authenticity that is certainly serving as a pull.”
There are several other cities in North Carolina that are listed as trending cities with high increases in Gen Z renters. Durham makes the list with a 53% increase from 2019 to 2020. Other North Carolina cities include Chapel Hill, Greensboro, and Asheville. To view the full study and learn more about the methodology, click here.
