NCRP presentation

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RESIDENTIAL LOCATION OF MILLENNIALS

A Calgary Case Study

Trina BurgessUniversity of Lethbridge Master’s Student

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Who are the Millennials?

■Born between 1980 and 2000■Aged 15 to 35 years old in 2015■27 % of the Canadian population

(Statistics Canada, 2011 Census)

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Millennials are different than previous generations■Getting married later■Having children later or not at all■Smaller household sizes■Fewer drive cars■Higher concentrations in downtowns and high-

density housing

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Millennial Housing Demand■Changing residential ecology of cities■Increase in segregation based on age

– “Youthification” of certain cities and certain areas of the city (polycentrism)

■Development of amenities in downtown cores– Lead to increase in high-density residential

suites■Not all young adults live downtown

– Many dispersed throughout the city or concentrated in the suburbs

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Location Quotients for 25-29 year olds in Calgary census tracts in 2011. Statistics Canada Census, 2011

25-29 year olds in 2011(# of Census Tracts in Range)

>=2.00 (7)1.50 to 1.99 (19)1.00 to 1.49 (67)0.50 to 0.99 (123)0.00 to 0.49 (32)

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LQ for 25-29 year olds

1981

25-29 year olds in 2011(# of Census Tracts in Range)

>=2.00 (7)1.50 to 1.99 (19)1.00 to 1.49 (67)0.50 to 0.99 (123)0.00 to 0.49 (32)

25-29 year olds(# of Census Tracts in Range)

1.5 to 2 (10)1 to 1.5 (43)0.5 to 1 (50)0 to 0.5 (12)

2011

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Research Question

■Why are Millennials deciding to live downtown, or close to it as opposed to in the suburbs?– What factors do Millennials aged 25-35

state as being important in deciding where to live?

■What are the future residential intentions of this group of young adults?

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Domains of Influence on Millennial Residential Location

Millennial Residential Location

Other

Neighborhood attributes

Social Network

Family-based considerations

Personal Security

MobilityLifestyle

Employment-related considerations

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Research Method■Qualitative interviews

– Open-ended questions– Semi-structured interview– Inductive, exploratory

■To determine important attributes and reasons– Why young adults choose to live where

they live– Housing attributes, neighborhood

attributes

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■Explanatory understanding of housing choices and locational preferences of Millennials in Calgary

■Inform ongoing development and planning objectives

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Millennial Residential Location

Housing Attributes

Neighborhood attributes

Social Atrributes

Family-based considerations

Psychological benefits

Transportation attributes

Lifestyle

Employment-based considerations

Themes emerging from qualitative analysis

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Neighbourhood attributes

■Amenities– Green space– Shopping

■Location■Trees■Nightlife

■Quiet■Safety■Community

maintenance■Housing stock –

aesthetics and appearance

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Housing attributes

■Apartment and condo living■Interior housing attributes■External housing attributes

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Transportation attributes

■Active transportation■Public transportation■Car sharing

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Social attributes of the neighbourhood■ Families and Children■ Proximity to family and friends■ Places to meet people and meet up with people■ Friendly neighbours■ Community engagement■ High density living■ Social diversity

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Psychological benefits

■Happiness■Pride of ownership■Neighbourhood reputation

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Differences between areas

■ Core– Condo living– Car sharing– Sport and concert

facilities– Cycle tracks– Limited space– Lots of people– Homeless people– History– No car

■ Area surrounding the core– Quiet

■ Suburbs– More families and

children– Lakes

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#1Location

#2Walkabili

ty

#3Quiet

Less time commuting = more time for other things

Sleep

Feel Healthier

Wendy, young professional, lives in city core

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#1Location

#2Vibrant

Community

#3Amenitie

s

Ease of access to things

Less time to get things, also variety in choicesHappier

peopleBeth, university student, lives in city core, doesn’t have driver’s license

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#1Proximity to

grocery stores, etc.

#2Proximity to transportati

on

#3Communit

y feel

General well being

Belonging, connectedness

Less time travelling Steve, married with 1 child, lives

in city core.

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#1Proximity to

amenities and work

#2Wide

variety of activities

#3Modern

look

Frees up time for enjoyable things

Vanity

If there is more to do we will do more

Shawn, young professional, lives in area surrounding city core.

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#1Good School

System

#2Lots of

recreation space

#3Price

Good education for kids

Want to do other things

Active family

Jessica, stay at home mom, suburbs

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Unique Community

Backyard Affordable

Pleasing Aesthetics

Single budgetDo

g

Joanne, single young professional with a dog, lives in suburbs

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Observations

■Location is important to most people– People have different standards for

why location is important to them– Downtowners want walkability/bike-

ability– Suburbanites are willing to drive

■Diversity in top priorities

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Observations

■Most people want to stay close to where they currently live– Downtowners want to stay central– Suburbanites want to stay in suburbs

■Change in family status would change housing choice more than neighborhood choice– People might need bigger homes in same/

similar area

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Contact

■Trina Burgesstrina.burgess@uleth.ca403-712-1022

http://www.millennialhousing.blogspot.ca/