Michigan Has the No. 1 City for Millennial Homeownership in America
For years, we’ve been hearing that the millennial generation is slacking when it comes to homeownership. But, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau, millennials are over that…

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For years, we've been hearing that the millennial generation is slacking when it comes to homeownership. But, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau, millennials are over that 50% threshold of being homeowners. Right now, the percentage of millennials who own homes is 51.5%.
So, where are these millennials buying homes? As it turns out, one Michigan city has the highest percentage of millennials who own homes in all of America. Millennials, if you're wondering, are generally born from 1981 to 1996, although some ranges have them being born earlier.
The report comes from ApartmentList.com. In the study, they explain that older generations, of course, have higher homeownership rates today than millennials. Also, millennials have hit that 50% homeownership slower than previous generations. In fact, that's trend, which is disturbing from an economic standpoint. As the article descries, "At each stage of life, the last three generations have bought homes slower than the generation that preceded them. Millennials have had the slowest transition from renters to homeowners. By age 30, 42 percent of millennials owned their homes, compared to 48 percent of gen Xers, 51 percent of baby boomers, and nearly 60 percent of silents. That gap persists through their 30s and into their early 40s."
So, which Michigan city is the No. 1 city in the U.S. for Millennial homeownership? Grand Rapids, where 63% of millennials own their homes, Apartment List's 2023 Millennial Homeownership Report. Another Michigan city is in the top 10, to boot. That's Detroit, which is No. 7 with a rate of about 55%. The report adds the Midwest and Great Lakes regions offer "some of the country's lowest cost of living and highest residential vacancy rates." If you're wondering about other hot cities on the list, Minneapolis is No. 2 and Cincinnati is No. 3. If you're a millennial looking for a home, check out these places. Find Apartment List's 2023 Millennial Homeownership Report here.
The housing market is finally coming down, largely because of high interest rates, but regardless of the reason, home prices are becoming more affordable. As it turns out, Michigan has one of the best cities for finding an affordable home in 2023.
According to BusinessInsider.com, "Despite the record high sale prices and equally steep mortgage rates in 2022, there are still some cities in the United States where the average earner can afford a home."
They add, "By scraping economic and housing data to predict the growth of home prices and sales in 100 of biggest US metros, Realtor.com ranked the top places where people can still buy an affordable home in 2023. According to their methodology, this year's homebuyers can expect reasonable deals in cities like Hartford, Connecticut and El Paso, Texas, both of which avoided much of the intense buyer competition and rapid home price growth seen in other parts of the country during the pandemic. At a time where the typical home is priced near $400,000, a good indicator of a housing market's health is the balance between home sales and price growth."
So, which U.S. cities have the best bang for your housing buck? Read the full list below, including the Michigan city. Even outside of Michigan, there were some cities within driving distance with some housing deals. Find the full tally here.
10. Toledo, Ohio
November 2022 median home price: $161,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +4.2%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +6.7%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +10.9%
https://toledo.oh.gov/
9. Chattanooga, Tennessee
November 2022 median home price: $397,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +2.9%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +8.2%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +11.1%
https://www.visitchattanooga.com/
8. Columbia, South Carolina
November 2022 median home price: $300,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +7.7%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +3.6%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +11.3%
https://columbiasc.gov/
7. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan
November 2022 median home price: $358,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +1.6%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +10.0%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +11.6%
https://www.wyomingmi.gov/
6. Augusta, Georgia
November 2022 median home price: $319,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +6.2%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +5.7%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +11.9%
https://www.augustaga.gov/
5. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York
November 2022 median home price: $240,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +6.3%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +6.0%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +12.3%
https://www.buffalony.gov/
4. Worcester, Massachusetts
November 2022 median home price: $447,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +2.5%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +10.6%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +13.1%
https://www.worcesterma.gov/
3. Louisville, Kentucky
November 2022 median home price: $290,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +5.2%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +8.4%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +13.6%
https://louisvilleky.gov/
2. El Paso, Texas
November 2022 median home price: $291,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +8.9%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +5.4%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +14.3%
https://www.elpasotexas.gov/
1. Hartford-West Hartford, Connecticut
November 2022 median home price: $372,000
Forecasted 2023 home sales change: +6.5%
Forecasted 2023 home price change: +8.5%
Forecasted 2023 combined sales and price change: +15.0%
https://www.westhartfordct.gov/