Why Are Millennials Being Drawn To Pittsburgh?
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- After years of Pittsburgh struggling to keep young people from moving away, comes very encouraging news.
In fact, we may now be doing a better a job than many other cities when it comes to attracting them.
According to a study of census data by Pew Charitable Trusts, the overall population in the city dropped by 9% from 2000 to 2014. However, the number of young college grads in the city grew during that same time by 53%.
The study also found that our growth with millennials was third best in the nation, behind Jersey City and Washington D.C.
Still unsure of the new report? A visit to trivia night at the Tipsy Cow in Shadyside might convince you.
It's organized by a group called PUMP, which stands for the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project. The group is all about young professionals in the city, and their numbers are growing.
"We really represent this groundswell of young Pittsburgh," said Arthur Pang who is a board member.
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Pang is a good example of young people moving here. He was recruited by PPG to come here after living in New York, Beijing, D.C. and Houston.
"It was a smaller, and I didn't really know what to expect," said Pang of his move to Pittsburgh. "It's a city where I had a much lower cost of living for a much higher standard of living."
City Councilman Dan Gilman isn't surprised by the latest numbers. He says it's part of a transformation in the city that's apparent in his East End district.
"The average age of a City of Pittsburgh resident today is 32.8," said Councilman Gilman. "When I moved here in here in 1995, the statistic that got thrown around is second oldest county in America. So to have that transition, is really remarkable."
Many point to our universities for attracting young people and businesses here such as Google, Uber, Disney and Apple who want to hire the graduates.
Gilman says new high-end housing in the city, added bike lanes and ride sharing are all things millennials want, and those young people mean more tax revenue.
"The only reason you're seeing streets paved in a new way," said Councilman Gilman. "You're seeing more classes of police officers. You're seeing investment in our public school system because of the millennial growth. That's the only reason we have the tax base increase to do it."
Annie Clough grew up in the North Hills, moved away, but Pittsburgh drew her back.
"All the amenities you would get in a larger city, but again, it has that affordability, and just the friendliness, you don't get that in a lot of cities."