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Why Cities Are Back in Demand
After years of people leaving for the suburbs, urban neighborhoods are seeing a real resurgence. Here's what's driving buyers back — and what it means for prices.
Megan Orso
Residential Sales Advisor
Trends
The Pandemic Hangover Is Over
The suburban migration of 2020–2022 made sense at the time. Offices were closed, space was a priority, and city amenities weren't available anyway. But that calculus has shifted.
As hybrid schedules became the norm, proximity started mattering again — to offices, to restaurants, to the kind of day-to-day convenience that's hard to replicate in low-density areas.
What's Pulling Buyers Back
Walkability Is Winning
Walkability scores have become a serious purchasing factor, especially among buyers under 40. The ability to run errands, grab coffee, or reach a subway stop on foot is something suburbs fundamentally can't offer.
The Math Is Changing
Urban apartments, once dismissed as overpriced for the space, are looking more competitive as suburban prices caught up — and in some markets, surpassed — city equivalents.
Where the Opportunity Is
Buyers willing to look one or two neighborhoods outside the established hotspots are finding real value. Areas with new transit access, incoming mixed-use development, or a growing density of independent businesses tend to be the ones that appreciate next.
