According to a recent Forbes study, San Antonio now tops the list of preferred cities by millennials—young adults born between 1980 and 2000. 

The study surveyed nearly 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 34 in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas—an area referred to as the "new capitals of influence."

The report showed that San Antonio's "dynamic economy, employment opportunities and affordable living," are its three most attractive attributes for these young professionals.  San Antonio is also perceived as a safe place to raise a family with plenty of opportunities to participate in local activities and entertainment.

"This generation recognizes the many assets our community has to offer. San Antonio is a choice city for business, attracting diverse industries, projects and a talented workforce that see the great benefits and opportunities that exist here," said Mario Hernandez, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF) president. "In addition to employment opportunities and affordable living, San Antonio offers a unique culture and growing urban core which keeps people of all ages and aspirations interested in living here." 

The Southwest United States was selected for the study due to the growing trend of Americans gravitating toward Texas and California. The selected participants were asked to identify which cities in the Southwest they anticipate will be most attractive and influential for members of their generation. 

Answers were based on where the respondents currently lived, where they attended college or where they would like to go.  Media, friends and family also influenced the answers provided by millennials. The results revealed that San Antonio ranked first on the list of appealing southwestern cities for millennials-- trumping large cities like San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Los Angeles.

As the nation's seventh-largest city, San Antonio garners many accolades. San Antonio was recently recognized as one of the most innovative cities by Bio Health Innovation and was also ranked by Forbes as one of the top cities for young graduates.  Additionally, in a recent study published by Forbes and New Geography, San Antonio tied for the city with the most brain gain – metro areas gaining college graduates most rapidly. 

San Antonio, which had a net gain of 76,000 college-educated people since 2007, or 20.3 percent, is successfully attracting recent grads through its combination of a strong and fast-growing economy, the rise of a creative class, a variety of new culinary options, and a vibrant night life. In addition, the local tech and energy sectors are expanding.  San Antonio is quickly becoming a market of innovation. One such example is Geekdom, a collaborative co-working environment that nurtures new start-ups – an obvious appeal to the millennial generation.