Why is Gen Z flocking to this unlikely Central Florida neighborhood?

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A new report this week by MovingPlace has revealed where Gen Z is moving — and one unlikely neighborhood in Florida is near the top of that list.

The study uses proprietary data of nearly 15 million moves nationwide throughout 2025, examining the “hottest” ZIP codes, cities and states for the Gen Z demographic.

“While Gen Z accounts for a smaller share of total moves compared to older generations (just 2.2% of total moves in the U.S.), their relocation trends provide early indicators of emerging residential hotspots and shifts in demographic composition across states and cities,” the report reads.

While Minneapolis took the top spot, the second ZIP code in the ranking might take some people by surprise.

That’s because it’s located within the world’s largest retirement community: the 34762 ZIP code in The Villages.

“The second hottest ZIP code for Gen Z is 34762, located in The Villages, Florida. Although the area is one of the largest retirement communities in the U.S., recently, there has been a large influx of working-age people.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this age group has increased by 19.1% over the past decade, making it the fastest-growing metro area in the U.S. for working-age people. This is likely due to those in the surrounding county moving to the area for job opportunities that provide services to that growing population of retirees."

MovingPlace, "The 2026 Gen Z Migration Report"

While the retirement community may not seem like a fit for younger generations, The Villages’ website states that people under 55 are allowed to live there so long as they’re at least 19 years old and share a household with someone over 55.

Furthermore, Florida law allows up to 20% of a retirement community’s residents to be between the ages of 18 and 55.

In his latest economic forecast, Director Sean Snaith of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting took a look at The Villages.

According to that report, the metro area is expected to see even more people moving into the area in the years to come — and that means more jobs will need to be filled, particularly in areas like healthcare.

For example, Encompass Health has opened a new 50-bed inpatient rehab hospital in The Villages, offering intensive care and advanced treatment spaces like a therapy gym, simulated living suites, in-house dialysis, and private patient rooms.

Furthermore, The Real Deal reported back in October that The Villages is looking to fund a 2,800-home expansion, which would help to grow the retirement community even more.

“Despite risks tied to senior housing, real estate exposure, and climate threats, analysts cite strong demand, secured permits, and a proven assessment-backed financing model as factors supporting investor interest,” Snaith’s report reads.

Meanwhile, the top 10 hotspots for Gen Z movers are as follows: