The south Boston ZIP code 02127 ranks No. 4 nationwide for Gen Z in-migration, according to a new study from MovingPlace. What’s driving the trend? High salaries that ease the financial burden on young movers, said researchers.

MovingPlace conducted a proprietary analysis of 335,678 verified Gen Z moves in 2025 and compared that with broader United States moving data covering 15 million relocations. Urban, job-focused ZIP codes dominated, while suburban areas lagged. Minneapolis, The Villages, Fla. and New York took the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots, respectively.

“When Gen Z shows up in a ZIP code, it’s often not because it’s trendy, but because the math finally works for them,” said Daniel Cobb, senior editor at MovingPlace. “Their movement patterns act as an early indicator of which cities have removed enough friction to compete for long-term talent.”

The average home price in Boston hit $955,000 in 2025, while rent for a studio apartment averaged at $2,150 per month. Ample high-paying jobs helped offset these high costs, however, appealing to money-minded Zoomers — the average Boston salary sat around $99,163 annually.

That appealed to a younger population, attracting residents with a median age of 32.5.

“Gen Z functions like a friction test for the housing and job market,” said Cobb. “Because they have the least financial slack, no relocation packages and little tolerance for inefficiency, they only move when a city removes enough barriers to make early adulthood viable. This includes high average salaries, lower living costs, plenty of affordable rental options and a booming job market to support.”