Rustbelt Cities Continue to Make Play for Millennials

From St. Louis to Baltimore, the Rustbelt Cities are seeing a growing population of millennials as a possible cure to shrinking populations and stagnating economies.

2 minute read

August 2, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT

By jwilliams @jwillia22


Pittsburgh

Tupungato / Shutterstock

The millennial generations, those born starting in 1982, are being seen as potential saviors of the once formidable Rustbelt cities that have fallen on hard economic times as manufacturing and industrial jobs have disappeared. Tim Henderson, writing in Stateline, finds that the growing number of educated millennials moving to cities such as St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Grand Rapids, has given hope for some form of economic rebirth based on a transition to a high-tech, knowledge economy. One of the primary factors attracting this growth can be found in the affordable housing stock available in these cities.

The high cost of living in high-tech centers like Seattle and San Francisco has made them less attractive to many young people, [author Antoine van Agtmael] said. At the same time, affordable housing has helped new hot spots of innovation in Rust Belt cities to emerge.

...

Libby Francis said she came to Baltimore from the District of Columbia looking for urban life at a lower cost in her mid-30s, about 10 years ago.

“I was a single adult chasing the dream of homeownership and I’m not made of money. It was getting pretty depressing,” Francis said. In Hampden she found a house for $110,000 and the financial freedom to open a locally sourced flower shop. “You can actually be an artist here and pay the rent.”

Cities such as Pittsburgh have also invested in amenities that might attract new "fast-growth" businesses, including new public spaces and apartments in the city's downtown.

Monday, July 25, 2016 in Stateline

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Two yellow and white Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail streetcars at station in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region

At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

April 3, 2025 - KERA News

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Canada geese sitting on shore of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California.

How Community Science Connects People, Parks, and Biodiversity

Community science engages people of all backgrounds in documenting local biodiversity, strengthening connections to nature, and contributing to global efforts like the City Nature Challenge to build a more inclusive and resilient future.

6 hours ago - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13 - Inside Climate News

Close-up on cardboard sign reading 'No Kings' being held up at protest at Tesla offices in Brooklyn, New York.

Dear Tesla Driver: “It’s not You, It’s Him.”

Amidst a booming bumper sticker industry, one writer offers solace to those asking, “Does this car make me look fascist?”

April 13 - The Globe and Mail