Young families are still fleeing major cities in huge numbers, a 'big surprise' for metros trying to escape the urban doom loop

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 05:57

A row of students ages 5-7 raising their hands while standing along a chain-link fence on a playground during recess at P.S. 111, a public school in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. — A row of students ages 5-7 on a playground during recess at a public school in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.
Deb Cohn-Orbach/Getty Images

Families with young kids continue to flee major US cities, despite urban recovery post-pandemic.
The population of children under five in New York City fell 18% from April 2020 to July 2023.
Big urban counties have lost young kids at almost double the national rate, a new report found.

When the pandemic hit, young families fled cities across the US in droves. They moved to suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas in search of a more affordable, convenient life, driven in large part by housing costs.