For most of the 2010s, Seattle was a millennial magnet. A booming tech job market, access to nature, progressive values, and an urban lifestyle made the city one of the fastest-growing in the country among young adults.
Between 2013 and 2019, the number of 25- to 34-year-olds living in Seattle surged by 35%, far outpacing the city’s overall growth. At its peak in 2019, this age group made up more than a quarter of the population.
But that momentum has stalled. New census data shows Seattle’s young adult population has declined since 2019 — a 5% drop that ends a decade-long run of dominance for the city’s most dynamic age group.
There’s no single reason for the shift, but it’s not hard to draw some lines. The tech sector has slowed. Big companies have laid off workers. And housing costs have continued to climb, putting added pressure on renters and first-time buyers alike. As the cost of living grows, so do the trade-offs, and some young adults may be deciding they aren’t worth it.
It’s also possible the shift is more demographic than geographic. Millennials are getting older. Many who arrived in Seattle in their mid-20s a decade ago have since moved into the 35–44 bracket — a cohort that actually grew by 14% over the same period.
Still, the reversal is notable. Seattle’s median age ticked up by nearly a year since 2019, and the city’s longtime status as a youth mecca may be entering a new phase.
It’s too soon to say whether this is a lasting trend or a temporary blip. Census data released this spring showed a strong year of population growth overall with nearly 17,000 new residents, but without an age breakdown, it’s unclear how much of that bounce came from young adults.
This post was based on information found on The Seattle Times.
