Urban centers draw more young, educated adults

[iheartthed]

In more than two-thirds of the nation's 51 largest cities, the young, college-educated population in the past decade grew twice as fast within 3 miles of the urban center as in the rest of the metropolitan area — up an average 26% compared with 13% in other parts.

Even in Detroit, where the population shrank by 25% since 2000, downtown added 2,000 young and educated residents during that time, up 59% , according to analysis of Census data by Impresa Inc., an economic consulting firm.

"This is a real glimmer of hope," says Carol Coletta, head of CEOs for Cities, a non-profit consortium of city leaders that commissioned the research. "Clearly, the next generation of Americans is looking for different kinds of lifestyles — walkable, art, culture, entertainment."

...

Preference for urban living among young adults — especially the well-educated — has increased sharply, data show:

•In 2000, young adults with a four-year degree were about 61% more likely to live in close-in urban neighborhoods than their less-educated counterparts. Now, they are about 94% more likely.

•In five metropolitan areas — Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington — about two-thirds of young adults who live in the city center have at least a four-year college degree. Less than a third of the nation's 25- to 34-year-olds do.

"This is no longer anecdotal," Coletta says. "Every metro area has good suburbs, but if you don't have a strong downtown and close-in neighborhoods, then you're not offering a choice that many of them are seeking. Offering that choice is a real competitive advantage for cities."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...9a9cc8ce3e5c,0

Obviously, this is a topic that has been discussed to death but here is the quantitative side to the argument that some of us have made in the past.

[Bham1982]

This is good news and hardly unexpected. There's no question that American cities are benefitting from an influx of young, educated folks.

There's no reason to get too excited, though. The big picture is still pretty fuzzy.

Two major caveats-

One, folks are waiting longer to get married and to have kids. This logically means the cohort of "urban-friendly" young folks has expanded. It dosen't really mean that something has fundamentally changed in terms of locational preference.

Two, the "urban friendly" portion of most big cities is quite small, and rather inconsequential in the greater scheme of things. For example, there's no question that Detroit's downtown and midtown areas are improving. There's also no question that the city, overall, is more challenged than ever.

[Danny]

Midtown Detroit provides the best urban center for up and coming young professionals. The community has exotic stores, community centers, coffee shops and mom and pop retail and restuarants and lure in loyal customers.

[EL Jimbo]

This is good news and hardly unexpected. There's no question that American cities are benefitting from an influx of young, educated folks.

There's no reason to get too excited, though. The big picture is still pretty fuzzy.

Two major caveats-

One, folks are waiting longer to get married and to have kids. This logically means the cohort of "urban-friendly" young folks has expanded. It dosen't really mean that something has fundamentally changed in terms of locational preference.

Two, the "urban friendly" portion of most big cities is quite small, and rather inconsequential in the greater scheme of things. For example, there's no question that Detroit's downtown and midtown areas are improving. There's also no question that the city, overall, is more challenged than ever.

It might not be much in the grand scope of things, but it is definitely a start. If you look at what has happened in some neighborhoods in Chicago as an example, there seem to be certain steps in the rise of an urban neighborhood.

1. Hipsters move in and make a neighborhood "funky and cool".

2. Young professionals move in, bringing re-development dollars and price out the hipsters [[who move on to a new neighborhood and make that "funky and cool").

3. The young professionals grow up, get married and some of them stay, making the neighborhood stable.

[Hypestyles]

hopefully the Detroit Works project can work on enticing young people to move to different detroit neighborhoods, have some different types of housing available..

[wolverine]

It might not be much in the grand scope of things, but it is definitely a start. If you look at what has happened in some neighborhoods in Chicago as an example, there seem to be certain steps in the rise of an urban neighborhood.

1. Hipsters move in and make a neighborhood "funky and cool".

2. Young professionals move in, bringing re-development dollars and price out the hipsters [[who move on to a new neighborhood and make that "funky and cool").

3. The young professionals grow up, get married and some of them stay, making the neighborhood stable.

You got it. And then trend where families stay is the next big thing to pick up. Sales of 3 to 4 bedroom condos have been some of the highest ever. The market for 1-2 bedroom condos has been sluggish, and rentals have skyrocketed.

[gthomas]

Im one of those young, educated Detroiter who return to be an ambassador in my hometown. Live Downtown, enjoy every moment what my city offer and opportunities. Future is bright for me...