I'm a 'zillennial' who left the city. I don't like living in the suburbs as a young person, but I plan to stay.

Thu, 02/08/2024 - 05:27

Kelsey Lam wearing a black coat and standing in a grassy area in King of Prussia. — Kelsey Lam said the suburbs feel secluded and less social than the city.
Courtesy of Kelsey Lam.

Kelsey Lam is a zillennial who left Philadelphia to live in the suburbs in 2021.
She feels the suburbs don't cater to her age group as much as cities do.
However, she plans to stay for now, saying she'd prefer to raise a family in the suburbs.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Kelsey Lam, a 27-year-old who left Philadelphia to live in the suburbs in 2021. The following has been edited for length and clarity.