Alexandria Among Trendy Hotspots For Gen Z Renters: Study

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria isn't only a competitive real estate market for homes, but it's also a desirable place for renders, according to a new study by RentCafe. The study ranks Alexandria as the country's 13th trendiest place for members of Generation Z seeking to rent an apartment.

The ranking is based on RentCafe's analysis of 3.2 million rental applications. Alexandria saw a 37 percent increase in the share of Gen Z, also known as Zoomers — who moved into a new apartment in 2021, the study found.

In 2021, 19 percent of renters living in Alexandria were Zoomers, up from 14 percent in 2020, according to the study.

Neighboring Arlington made the ranking in sixth place. Washington, DC, didn't make the top 20, as its 31 percent increase in rentals from Gen Z was less than its neighbors Arlington and Alexandria.

Topping the ranking was San Francisco with a 101 percent in Gen Z rentals. Other cities ahead of Alexandria in the Gen Z renter rankings are Jersey City; Manhattan; Philadelphia; Boston; San Jose; Seattle; Minneapolis; Los Angeles; Peoria, Arizona; and Long Beach, Calfornia. Behind Alexandria are Irving, Texas; San Diego; Baltimore; Lewisville, Texas; Atlanta; Glen Burnie, Maryland; and West Des Moines, Iowa.

Gen Z is defined as the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. Gen X was born between 1965 and 1980, and Baby Boomers and older are those who were born before 1965.

At 21 percent, Zoomers were the only generation to record an increase in renting activity in 2021. Gen X saw a 2 percent decrease in renting activity in 2021, while Baby Boomer renting activity decreased by 5 percent and Millennials saw an 8 percent decrease.

Millennials are now moving into home-buying mode, either buying condos or townhouses in D.C. or moving into the suburbs of Virginia to get a large place for their families, according to RentCafe.

Patch editor Mark Hand contributed to this report.