A study on Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) by Point2 revealed that this age group wants it all. At the top of their priority list are mental health, work-life balance and environmental and financial stability.
The study considered metrics that would give Canada’s biggest cities an advantage in attracting and retaining the youngest, savviest professionals. These things are at least as attainable, often even more so, in smaller, close-knit, slower-paced cities than they are in large urban centres.
So, perhaps unsurprisingly, the study found that of the country’s 50 largest cities, it was the smaller ones that scored higher on things like affordable housing, cost of living, work-life balance and perceived mental health.
Except for Montréal, none of Canada’s large hubs were in the top 10 highest-scoring cities for Gen Z-relevant metrics. Of the top 10 cities that can best help young adults thrive, eight have populations under 300,000 (and some under 200,000).
Top city for Gen-Z
The number one place for Generation-Z lifestyle was St. John’s, Newfoundland. This city scored the most points of any city for study categories – including income, education, cost of living, remote work opportunities and mental health indicators.
Quebec: A top place for young professionals
With eight cities ranking in the study’s top 10 best cities, Quebec earned high scores in areas like share of young homeowners, cost of living, median income and access to health services. Regina made #10 on the list.
A close running
While none of the 50 cities scored perfectly, it was a tight running for the best spot for this young generation of future homeowners:
Source: Point2
Read Point2’s report here.
Any action to “solve ” affordability can ONLY address one of 3 items
-Home Prices (reducing these — not popular with major voting segment)
-The rate of interest that creates the monthly payment (reducing – universally popular but rarely do-able, without kick-can-down-road consequences)
– Family Incomes (raising this metric is very difficult without devaluation of currency or giving away free money … although BOTh have been tried repeatedly to NO good long-term effect)
All the noise about subsidizing the financing/carrying costs of Purpose Built Rental buildings (or buying up old 4 storey walk-ups on main thoroughfares in Class B & C neighbourhoods as this-year’s Mayor has done) are just paying huge sums of public money to create MORE (most will arrive in 2-7 years from now) of the same expensively-priced/costed homes that we already hear are UNAFFORDABLE/ INACCESSIBLE now.