Data Study · 4 min read
Where Young Adults Live: The 18–34 Share in the 50 Largest US Metros and 25 Downtowns
Published October 10, 2026 by the Demografics team
Young adults move more often and form new households, which is why many retail, fitness, food and telecom concepts track where they live. This study measures the share of residents aged 18 to 34 in the 50 largest US metropolitan areas, and then within 3 miles of downtown in 25 of their principal cities.
Across the 50 metros, the median 18–34 share is 23.2%. Austin–Round Rock, TX is highest at 26.8%; Miami–Fort Lauderdale, FL is lowest at 21.1%. Downtowns are far more concentrated: in all 25 cities studied, the 3-mile downtown area has a higher 18–34 share than its metro.
How we measured
The 18–34 share is the number of residents aged 18 to 34 (ACS table B01001, both sexes) divided by total population. Metro figures use metropolitan statistical areas; downtown figures combine census tracts within 3 miles of City Hall. Each downtown is measured from City Hall at its street address. Miami is measured from the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (111 NW 1st St) because Miami City Hall sits in Coconut Grove, outside the downtown core.
| Metro area | Aged 18–34 | Median age | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | 26.8% | 35.5 | 2,296,377 |
| San Diego–Chula Vista, CA | 26.3% | 36.7 | 3,289,701 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 26.1% | 33.3 | 1,254,675 |
| Seattle–Tacoma, WA | 25.2% | 37.3 | 4,001,701 |
| Virginia Beach–Norfolk, VA-NC | 25.1% | 37.0 | 1,798,025 |
| Denver–Aurora, CO | 25.1% | 37.0 | 2,959,386 |
| Boston–Cambridge, MA-NH | 24.9% | 39.1 | 4,912,449 |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA | 24.9% | 37.7 | 13,111,917 |
| San Antonio–New Braunfels, TX | 24.8% | 35.3 | 2,570,862 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 24.8% | 35.7 | 1,428,923 |
| San Jose–Sunnyvale, CA | 24.7% | 37.6 | 1,981,584 |
| Nashville–Davidson, TN | 24.7% | 36.8 | 1,990,873 |
| Columbus, OH | 24.6% | 36.4 | 2,137,223 |
| Riverside–San Bernardino, CA | 24.6% | 35.2 | 4,610,050 |
| Orlando–Kissimmee, FL | 24.4% | 37.9 | 2,679,298 |
| Metro area | Aged 18–34 | Median age | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami–Fort Lauderdale, FL | 21.1% | 41.6 | 6,123,949 |
| Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL | 21.2% | 42.1 | 3,194,310 |
| Cleveland–Elyria, OH | 21.5% | 41.4 | 2,079,759 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 21.6% | 42.8 | 2,365,501 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 21.9% | 39.6 | 2,813,523 |
| Detroit–Warren, MI | 22.0% | 40.1 | 4,375,604 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 22.1% | 39.3 | 1,282,588 |
| New Orleans–Metairie, LA | 22.2% | 39.0 | 1,264,357 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 22.3% | 37.7 | 2,190,750 |
| Birmingham–Hoover, AL | 22.3% | 38.9 | 1,114,368 |
Downtown vs metro
| City | Downtown (3 mi) | Metro | Difference (points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 45.2% | 24.9% | 20.3 |
| Atlanta, GA | 44.0% | 23.4% | 20.6 |
| Seattle, WA | 43.6% | 25.2% | 18.4 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 43.6% | 22.7% | 20.9 |
| Chicago, IL | 43.5% | 23.2% | 20.3 |
| Dallas, TX | 42.8% | 24.2% | 18.6 |
| Washington, DC | 42.1% | 23.0% | 19.1 |
| Denver, CO | 41.8% | 25.1% | 16.7 |
| Charlotte, NC | 40.2% | 22.9% | 17.3 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 39.3% | 23.2% | 16.1 |
| Houston, TX | 38.1% | 23.9% | 14.2 |
| Riverside, CA | 35.4% | 24.6% | 10.8 |
| San Diego, CA | 35.1% | 26.3% | 8.8 |
| New York, NY | 34.7% | 23.1% | 11.6 |
| Baltimore, MD | 33.9% | 22.7% | 11.2 |
| Portland, OR | 33.8% | 23.3% | 10.5 |
| St. Louis, MO | 33.7% | 21.9% | 11.8 |
| Detroit, MI | 33.6% | 22.0% | 11.6 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 33.5% | 24.9% | 8.6 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 33.4% | 23.7% | 9.7 |
| San Francisco, CA | 32.9% | 23.3% | 9.6 |
| Tampa, FL | 32.2% | 21.2% | 11.0 |
| Orlando, FL | 30.6% | 24.4% | 6.2 |
| San Antonio, TX | 28.3% | 24.8% | 3.5 |
| Miami, FL | 27.5% | 21.1% | 6.4 |
The most youth-heavy downtowns are Boston, MA (45.2%), Atlanta, GA (44.0%) and Seattle, WA (43.6%). Universities, new rental construction and proximity to entry-level jobs all concentrate young adults near city centers; the census data shows the outcome, not which of these causes applies in each city.
Median age: downtown vs metro
22 of the 25 downtowns have a lower median age than their metro. The biggest gaps are in Boston, MA, where the downtown median of 32.5 is 6.6 years below the metro's 39.1, Minneapolis, MN, where the downtown median of 31.2 is 6.4 years below the metro's 37.6 and Tampa, FL, where the downtown median of 37.1 is 5.0 years below the metro's 42.1.
Are young metros richer or poorer?
Across the 50 metros, the correlation between the 18–34 share and median household income is 0.39: a weak positive relationship. A young population on its own says little about spending power, so it should be read together with income.
Using age data
- Check age at the trade-area level: metro averages hide how concentrated young adults are near the core.
- Look at the full age breakdown. A downtown with many 18–34 residents may still have few children, which matters for family-oriented concepts.
- Remember students: areas around large universities show very high 18–34 shares but also lower household incomes, because many students live on modest budgets.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2018–2022 (tables B01001, B01002, B01003, B11001, B19001, B19013, B25003, C24050).
- U.S. Census Bureau, TIGERweb 2020 census tract boundaries (used to find the tracts inside each trade radius).
More data studies
- Who Lives Within 3 Miles of Downtown? Census Profiles of 25 Major US Cities
- 1, 3 or 5 Miles? How a Trade Radius Changes the Picture in 25 US Downtowns
- Is Downtown Richer or Poorer Than the Metro? Income in 25 US Cities Compared
- Renters vs Owners: Housing Tenure in the 50 Largest US Metros and Their Downtowns