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Millennials Share Moving-Related Desires with Our Town America Birmingham

WBMA Birmingham (June 2019) – According to a new national survey released for May’s National Moving Month and the busy summer moving season - Millennials are growing up. They are choosing where to live based on factors like better jobs, higher pay, and benefits.

The survey, commissioned by Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing franchise, paints a new portrait of the Millennial generation who are often accused of having their priorities backwards.  Millennials are actually eager to move for job opportunities that equate to a better future for themselves and their families.

Luke Wood, Our Town America Franchise Owner in Birmingham, Alabama, sits down with WBMA TV to discuss survey results from more than 650 Millennial new movers (men and women born between 1981 and 1996). Birmingham ranked high on the list of desired cities to live in!

Watch the video below, recently featured on WBMA TV in Birmingham, to gain insight on survey findings.

The national survey reveals:

  • More than half (58 percent) would move to a city they don’t like for the right job
  • 71 percent would choose to move for a higher paying job in the middle of nowhere over a lower paying job in their dream city
  • Nearly 1 in 3 (30 percent) made their most recent move for their career
  • 39% said price mattered most when selecting current residence - well guess what? Birmingham was recently named as one of nation’s 10 most affordable cities.
  • Those who moved for a job cite higher salary and better benefits as top reasons for the move
  • 86 percent of Millennials who live with their parents or relatives want to move out
  • 84 percent of Millennials plan to buy a home

Most Millennials (72 percent) said they don’t live in their dream city; the reasons are practical and calculated.  “Price,” “the neighborhood,” and “proximity to work” were the top three reasons Millennials moved to their current city.

Millennials also love to have fun, but want to keep it close to home…in a place their dog can be comfortable too.   The survey shows convenience wins with Millennials on the move.   Respondents said their home must be:

  • Within range of delivery services (69 percent)
  • Within walking distance to restaurants and stores (57 percent)
  • Home to great community events (53 percent) – the top five favorites, in order, were food festivals, concerts, sporting events, bar hopping/wine tasting, and family-friendly events
  • And a great fit for their pet(s) – 3 in 5 Millennials have pets, 70 percent of whom say pets influence where they live

And so much for bright lights, big city.   When asked about their ideal living situation:

  • 80 percent said they’d prefer a different option other than “Big City Life”
  • More than 1/3 (35 percent) of those surveyed would choose to move an Uber ride away from the city
  • 1 out of 4 (25 percent) want to move to the suburbs, living even further away from the city
  • Only 1 out of 5 want to move to the city (20 percent), barely beating out the rural boonies (19 percent) as the ideal living situation for Millennials

The survey also shows that when Millennials move, this Phone-in-Face generation actually craves Face-to-Face connection with new neighbors.

  • 76 percent say they’d prefer to meet new people in person rather than online
  • 44 percent try to meet their neighbors
  • 80 percent say they’d love a housewarming gift and 45 percent say they have given a housewarming gift
  • Those who don’t try to meet their neighbors say it’s because they’re concerned with safety when knocking on doors
  • More than 2 in 5 (41 percent) fear that social media has become the new neighborhood

Millennial respondents say their ideal city has good scenery, great weather, fun outdoor activities, and plenty of job opportunities. Over 48% said they want to have outdoor activities available to them in their dream city. Thankfully, Birmingham is known for providing access to plenty of outdoor activities including great walking tours, botanical gardens, biking, cable skiing, hiking and more!

The study also shows that if Millennial is new to town, they’d love a new business to welcome them.

  • 85 percent say they’d take advantage of a local small business offer/freebie (like a free meal or haircut).  Almost all (98%) say they’d likely revisit the business after trying out the offer.

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*Editor’s Note:

*Please cite Our Town America as the source for this survey.
*This online survey of 652 men and women was conducted by a third party and commissioned by Our Town America.
*Survey participants have no affiliation with Our Town America.

About Our Town America
For 47 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium welcome package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking top in their category for franchisee satisfaction.

Our Town America’s dedication to the “sponsor exclusivity” concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its welcome packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the company’s long-term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the new mover marketing program – such as their ability to reach a brand-new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town America’s innovative pinpoint tracking system.

Due in large part to Our Town America’s devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America’s concept as a viable business opportunity.

It is Our Town America’s mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America’s welcome packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement.

For more information, visit the Our Town America website at https://www.ourtownamerica.com or call 1-800-497-8360.

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