Signs You Live in a Millennial Neighborhood

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Redfin just released a report on where college-educated millennials are living these days. The top millennial neighborhoods include Murray Hill in New York, West Loop in Chicago, Buckhead in Atlanta, Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. and Marina in San Francisco.  In light of the report, we decided to put together a list of telltale signs you are living in a millennial neighborhood; you may be living in one and not even know it!

1.  Your local Starbucks crowd consists of a tech startup CEO, a professional blogger and an app developer.

And it wouldn’t be weird if they were all roommates! According to the report, educated millennials gravitate toward tech and science hubs for their career paths. In millennial zip codes, nearly 20 percent of residents are employed in the science and technology industry, compared with 7 percent in all zip codes.

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2.  You can’t decide what cuisine to eat for dinner tonight, because your nabe offers cuisine from practically every country.

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Redfin’s report says millennial zip codes tend to be more international. On average, nearly 20 percent of residents in millennial zip codes are foreign born. So, go ahead and order Greek tonight since you probably already had Indian, Thai and Mexican this week.

3.  The bartender at your local watering hole has a Masters in Astrophysics or Comparative Literature.

Over 64 percent of all residents in millennial zip codes have a bachelor’s degree or higher. So, your bartender may not only be educated, but probably into DIY projects, as well. DIY is so millennial.

4.  Your idea of spacious is having a bedroom that’s separate from your kitchen.

You also consider a dishwasher a “luxury” item, and the closest you ever hoped to be near a washer and dryer is across the street at the laundromat. The percentage of people living alone in millennial zips (47 percent) is larger than households with families (38 percent) – making studio apartments OK.

5.  Everyone you know works for a tech company and their offices look something like this…

The office may also include a pinball machine, a Nintendo system or a ping pong table. Let’s face it, it probably has all of the above. Not that they need the extra perks. In 2012, the average household in millennial zip codes had a median income of $74,000 and a mean income of $104,000.

6.  Your parents are constantly reminding you that their mortgage is much less than your rent.

The average rent in millennial zip codes is $1,400 more than in other zip codes. But that doesn’t really phase you; millennials say they don’t want to be tied down with a mortgage.

7. You keep bumping into people — not because you know them, but because they’re walking while reading something on their phone.

And you might not be able to apologize in the same language. Twenty-five percent of people in millennial zip codes speak a language other than English at home, double the average percentage in other areas.

8. You wait an hour in line for bottomless brunch.

And when your parents hear “bottomless” brunch, they think it’s a gathering for people without pants. But it’s ok – you’re cool with expensive brunches and aren’t quite ready to start saving for a down payment. The homeownership rate for millennials is 42 percent, compared with 65 percent for the total U.S. population.

9. You’ve accidentally gotten into a stranger’s Prius after leaving the bar because you assumed it was your Uber.

The takeaway from analyzing more than 200 of the largest zip codes where educated millennials live is that they prefer urban environments, close to where they work. Who needs to own a car when everything you need is a short Uber drive away?

 10. You still live with your ex because you can’t afford the rent without him/her, and student loans aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Just think of how painful it would be if you had pay more than half of the electric bill! The number of households with roommates or non-married partners is actually 15 percent in millennial zip codes, more than twice that reported in all zip codes.

11. You see more dogs and frisbees than strollers at your local park.

You don’t find that strange at all, and why would you? According to the report, out of the households in millennial zip codes, 3 percent are families, compared to 66 percent in all zip codes.

12. You recognize your neighbors in real life because you’ve swiped them on Tinder.

And you find yourself wondering, “Did I swipe left or right?” But don’t worry – they might not be your neighbor for long. Twenty-eight percent of people in millennial zips lived in a different home a year before, compared with 13 percent of all zips.

13. You can’t walk a block without seeing a storefront offering gluten free, vegan and/or organic food. Even the pet food is organic.

The median income of households in these college-educated millennial neighborhoods is more than 50 percent higher than in all zip codes. So, they can afford to pay $10 for organic blueberries. Even Fido can get in on the organic action.

Can you think of a few other signs you live in a millennial neighborhood? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and  G+.

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If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.
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Alanna Finn

Alanna is the celebrity real estate expert at Redfin and oversees the Fun & Fabulous content for the Redfin Real-Time blog. Before coming to Redfin, Alanna was a local TV news producer and dabbled in the world of reality TV production. Her dream home would be a duplex in NYC with a balcony, washer/dryer and a dishwasher. Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage that uses modern technology to make clients smarter and faster. For more information about working with a Redfin real estate agent to buy or sell a home, visit our Why Redfin page.

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