After a first-of-its-kind study, Cleveland is being named one of the top 10 cities for college-educated millennials.
In the study, called 'The Fifth Migration: A Study of Cleveland Millennials', the Center for Population Dynamics at Cleveland State University found that Cleveland is eighth in the nation in the growth rate of college-age people aged 25 to 34.
The influx of millennials in Cleveland didn't really start until 2008. But, since then, the city has seen a tremendous increase in the number of college-educated 20-somethings making their way to downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods.
According to the study, between 2011 and 2013 Cleveland saw a gain of 7,000 young professionals.
And downtown is reaping the benefits—the number of residents aged 25 to 34 skyrocketed 76 percent from 2000 to 2012.
Those numbers tied Cleveland at 8th place, along with Miami and Seattle.
The study found that Cuyahoga County drew the most millennials from Kings County, New York, where the average millennial income was about $40,440 in 2013.
And a big reason for that, the study explains, is the low cost of living here.
"This analysis attempts to paint a fuller picture of what is driving this ‘brain gain,’ as opposed to simply documenting it," said Richey Piiparinen, director of the Center for Population Dynamics. "One factor discussed is the opportunities in Cleveland regarding lower barrier of entry related to cost.”
Still, Cleveland remains one of the cities with the lowest total population of millennials—about 23 percent compared to 28 to 29 percent in cities like Austin, San Diego and Los Angeles.
Cleveland millennials are also less diverse than millennials in other cities across the nation, according to the study.
