Millennials Are Happier in Cities

According to a study from Rutgers University, Millennials in cities reported higher levels of happiness than did their peers in smaller communities. The study controlled for factors like race, income, gender and health. "When it comes to place, Millennials are different from the generations that came before them. Unlike older Americans, they tend to be happier in larger, more urban environments," Richard Florida writes for CityLab.

Participants reported whether they were not too happy, pretty happy or very happy everyday for a short period. "They use detailed data from the General Social Survey (GSS), which has collected information for nearly a century on the happiness, or subjective well-being (“SWB”), of five separate generations: the Lost Generation (born between 1883 and 1924); the Silent Generation (1925–1942); Baby Boomers (1943–1960); Generation X (1961–1981); and Millennials (1992–2004)," Florida reports.

This is a significant finding, because data shows that Millennials are increasingly moving to the far-out suburbs. Florida argues that Millennials being priced out of cities might move to suburbs, but they remain an urban generation.