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Tracking migration into and out of the suburbs See SUBURBS Pg 8 By Erik J. Martin CTW FEATURES Big cities have long been a magnet for rent- ers and homebuyers alike, often promis- ing closer proximity to jobs, greater dining and entertainment at- tractions, and a lifestyle amenable to go-getters and active Americans. But the truth is, many city dwellers have opted to relocate to suburban and rural areas over the past few years. According to data from The Pew Chari- table Trusts, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, reloca- tions out of city markets jumped from the prior year, along with moves into suburban and rural areas. Moves out of the densest portions of large metros (with more than 10,000 people per square mile) increased 17% to approximately 2.9 million from March 2020 to February 2021, although the number of moves away from these dense locations came back to pre-pandemic levels between March 2021 and February 2022. Based on the most recent National Asso- ciation of Realtor data (from a year ago), the share of inbound moves for urban areas was 48.5% versus 54.6% for rural areas, indicating that more Americans are choosing to move to rural/suburban sites instead of urban areas lately. Yet there are signs that major metro living is back in vogue. "Over the last few years, we've seen above- average moves from cit- ies to suburbs because of pandemic-related restrictions. But we are now actually seeing a move back to cities," explains Ralph DiBug- nara, president of Home Qualified. He cites a recent study by Redfin indicating that the num- ber of people moving to cities is 7% higher this year than pre-pandemic in 2019. "Gen Z, as well 210 LAFAYETTE CIRCLE Sitting at the heart of the bustling hamlet of downtown Lafayette! Offering 5 unique floor plans with unparalleled access to world class dining, shopping, walking trails and BART. Early buyers have the opportunity to select their own finishes. Starting at $1,848,000 Now Touring *LIMITED AVAILABILITY LIVE, HOST, WALK, TELEWORK, EXPLORE AND PLAY. 2carparking 2-3bedrooms 2bathrooms (877) 678-3370 Homes | Advertising Supplement 001 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP H3