humans migrate that's what we do back in the days before the Rolling Stones we lived
in caves and followed herds for our survival any life form that can moves when they're in
an area they can't survive in either that or they die it's that simple from whales
to zebras to construction workers if you can't eat raise your Offspring or collect a paycheck
you'll move during the Great Depression people left the South and the Midwest for California
looking for work during World War II people left the South for places like Detroit and
Los Angeles to work in jobs supporting the war effort in recent times a notable shift
in population migration patterns has been witnessed across the United States popular
destinations like Texas New York and California have traditionally held a strong appeal because
that's where the jobs were these days an increasing number of people and businesses
are finding themselves drawn to the Midwest this movement can be attributed to a combination of
factors and that's what we're looking at today got it gum it good let's take a look
one of the key factors driving the migration to the Midwest is affordability of Housing and
overall low-cost living both Texas and California known for their bustling cities and vibrant
economies have experienced skyrocketing housing costs in major Urban centers now for California
that's been going on since the 1980s for Texas it started blowing up around 2000. in contrast the
Midwest offers more reasonable cost of living with lower housing prices and less pressure on
the household budget this affordability factor is very appealing to Young professionals and
families seeking to establish themselves without the financial strain associated with a serious
mortgage now overall in every single state of the Midwest the cost of living is somewhere
between five and ten percent lower than the national average the housing even to this day
is where they really Shine Let me give you some examples the median house price in California is
799 thousand dollars that's first quarter 2023 in New York 531 thousand Texas us 382 000. now
let's say you go to Middle America and look for a house in Nebraska the median home price there
is two hundred ninety six thousand dollars Kansas even cheaper 282 000 just to give you an idea how
drastic that is if you bought that house in California for 799 000 your monthly mortgage
would be somewhere just under five thousand dollars like forty seven hundred dollars
that's a month if you buy that home in Iowa it's about fourteen hundred dollars now obviously it's
gonna vary depending on a how much the house really is what your mortgage rate is and how
much money you put down the number I gave you is a total ballpark number just to give you an idea
quality of life also plays a pivotal role in this migration Trend the Midwest boasts a strong sense
of community often characterized by friendly neighborhoods and a slower pace of life that's
just how the Midwest is some people like a little faster paced life want a little excitement I have
no data to back this up but I would say over 50 percent of the country would rather live a slower
paced life around friendly people than a life full of chaos and neighbors that flip you off and make
jokes about your mom if you look at studies on mental health and stress and they start ranking
the cities which I did a couple years ago one thing you won't see is any City in the midwest
it was Portland Los Angeles Seattle Houston Dallas San Antonio Miami Richmond Virginia was on there
Little Rock Arkansas and New York they were all on that list so you get a faster paced life a little
more excitement and some good old-fashioned depression besides friendly neighbors job
opportunities have been diversifying in the midwest making it a more attractive destination
for those seeking professional growth over the last decade States like Illinois Michigan and
Minnesota have invested a lot in the Innovation Education and Research they're trying to create a
more educated Workforce to draw in tech companies and it's working since forever the Midwest
employment opportunities were mainly manufacturing government like the military or whatever and
normal government jobs and farming these days certain areas in the midwest have turned into
technology hubs Health Care Centers and they've got a lot more manufacturing facilities the
growth for these newer Industries is just going to continue for probably the next handful of decades
in 2018 there was a shift in the age demographic of people moving to the Midwest three of the top
10 states for Millennials in gen Z migration have been in the midwest yet Minnesota Iowa
and Nebraska back in the 1980s and 90s that was impossible it just didn't happen people moved to
Colorado Oregon Washington Texas probably back then too and California they're big on Miami
for quite a long time during the 80s and 90s telling someone you were moving to the Midwest
like Des Moines Iowa or Wichita was almost like admitting defeat that's not a thing anymore gen
Z and Millennials are smarter they know the value of a dollar and they're not sucked into
a lifestyle as much as a lot of us were that you know became adults in the 80s and 90s back then
those big Metro areas like Los Angeles New York San Francisco Miami was where you had to be these
days with the internet and everything where you have to be is wherever you are these Generations
have embraced the remote work lifestyle more than Gen X and Baby Boomers now that shouldn't
be a surprise to anyone they are younger and they have a better grasp of tech than most of us do
and they have come to realize you don't need to be in a major city to have a job and that's how
major cities grew back in the day that's where all the jobs were more and more Tech firms are
moving to the Midwest and that's bringing these younger people out there in 2012 it was estimated
that only six to eleven percent of new startup companies happened in the midwest in 2022 that
number was between 25 and 30 percent younger adults know this and they're taking advantage
of it I mean honestly why work at a tech company in a place where you can't survive you can't buy
a home the number's a little outdated like three years ago they were talking to people that were
making ninety thousand and a hundred and ten thousand dollars in the Silicon Valley area
they couldn't afford a home they had a hard time making rent they're talking to one guy
I forget if he had like three or four roommates everyone in there was making over 90 grand and
you had to have the roommates to live in this apartment and it was nothing special mark my
words by 2025 you will see some place like Des Moines or Wichita Omaha Lincoln or I don't
know Peoria bubble up to the surface as a Midwest Tech hub the appeal of political stability cannot
be overlooked the Midwest tends to embrace a more balanced political landscape attracting
individuals seeking a sense of moderation and a reduced polarization in their surroundings it's
toxic only makes sense this can be enticing in an era where political tensions are high
and people want a more harmonious and United Community we all know what politics have become
terribly toxic of all the regions in the U.S studies show that the Midwest is into politics
but they keep it to themselves most of the time one guy explained it like their sex lives they
like it they do it they just don't want to explain how they do it to you and they don't
want you to explain how you do it and they sure don't want you to tell them how they're doing
it wrong only 30 percent of Americans follow politics in non-presidential election years
and only about 11 percent of Americans are those hardcore live and breathe I get my identity from
politics types you know who they are they're the one ones that leave angry political comments on
baby shark videos if you spend too much time on the internet you probably think the entire
country is just a blaze with political anger and opinions once you get off the internet you don't
rarely hear anyone talking about politics the Midwest seems to be more laid back overall when
it comes to politics they take that whole Live and Let Live be good to Thy Neighbor
teaching to heart there's a growing percentage of Millennials and gen Z that are tuning out of
politics and they want to move someplace where they're not going to have to deal with politics
in conclusion the shifting migration patterns towards the Midwest signals a
change in the American dream while Texas and California have long held the Limelight as
Prime destinations the Midwest is emerging as a compelling alternative affordability quality
of life job opportunities recreational options and political stability collectively paint an enticing
picture for those who seek a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle as more individuals and
families make the move to the heartland of the country the Midwest influence is poised
to grow shaping the next chapter of American migration and culture be nice to each other