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black house
Photography by Emily Dorio

A while back, we reported on a rush of millennials heading to Texas to put down roots. According to an analysis of U.S. Census records, the Lone Star State experienced a net influx of more than 75,000 millennials in 2022. But if you take a look at Gen-Z home buyers, the story takes a different turn. A recent Realtor.com report shines a bit of light on this generation’s moving habits, spotlighting the top metro areas where they’re buying homes—and Texas isn’t even on their radar.

There are a few big takeaways from the data. First, lots of Gen Z are flocking to the Midwest. Cities like Lima, Ohio, and Waterloo, Iowa, are slightly surprising to see until you think about the cost of real estate. In addition, many of the communities topping the list are home to military bases, which makes sense when you realize many first-time home buyers are using loans from Veterans Affairs (VA). This kind of aid allows people to lock in lower mortgage rates and, at times, avoid coming up with a down payment. Base housing can be hard to come by, especially for married couples, so these perks are certainly appealing.

Now that you’ve got some context, here are the top 10 cities on the list and the median home price in each destination:

  1. Jacksonville, North Carolina: $330,000
  2. Elkhart, Indiana: $295,000
  3. Lima, Ohio: $212,500
  4. Waterloo, Iowa: $280,450
  5. Cumberland, Maryland: $158,000
  6. Watertown, New York: $235,000
  7. St. Joseph, Missouri: $169,000
  8. Hinesville, Georgia: $282,000
  9. Dubuque, Iowa: $308,750
  10. St. Cloud, Minnesota: $350,000

It seems like those born between 1997 and 2012 are not afraid to ditch big-city life and its high cost of living. And it’s easy to believe when there are listings like this three-bedroom brick beauty hanging out in Dubuque. A cutie like that may need some work (she was built in 1872, after all), but we’ve got tips for that. Hint: Peel-and-stick wallpaper goes a long way, and adding some squiggly personality to outdated bifold closet doors is a breeze.