Where Do Millennials Live in Los Angeles?

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LOS ANGELES—A new research map confirms that millennials are gravitating toward live/work/play environments. According to a map from JLL that tracks millennials and baby boomers, Downtown Los Angeles, Playa Vista and Hollywood are hotspots for the demographic, which outnumbers baby boomers by 10% in those markets. In most of the markets in Los Angeles, the breakdown is 25% millennials to 21% baby boomers.

"The chart supports the notion that millennials want to live where they work and play, and companies are looking to tap into this generation of growing influence," Taylor Coyne, JLL research analyst in L.A., tells GlobeSt.com. The map profiles some of the trendier areas of the market today and it's not a big surprise to see that those with a higher concentration of millennials happen to be home to some of L.A.'s most active real estate submarkets.  Downtown, Hollywood, and Playa Vista are all seeing a tremendous amount of investment, construction, and leasing activity across all product types. More specifically, this activity has been dominated by the subtypes of property that cater to the demands of the millennial generation. Creative office, lifestyle retail, and trendy apartments are often the projects responsible for the cranes dotting the landscape, which are all heavily tied to the demands of the millennial population."

The chart supports the commonly held notion that millennials and baby boomers are gravitating toward live/work/play urban infill environments, which often also tend to be up-and-coming neighborhoods that are walkable and have access to public transit. Take a look at the chart below to see the breakdown of millennials and baby boomers in Los Angeles.

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According to Coyne, this information shows where we need to build housing. "This information, in conjunction with understanding office trends and migration patterns within Los Angeles, could indicate where we need new housing," she says. "There is a huge demand for affordable housing in L.A. and understanding where one of the largest population groups wants to live, what amenities are most important to them, and what neighborhoods they can currently afford, could help guide development."