APA's latest national poll surveyed Millennials and Baby Boomers on community preferences and dispels popular assumptions on how to improve local economies and attract new residents.

1. National Planning Conference
April 30, 2014 – Atlanta, GA
68%
32%
75%
25%
67%
33%

2. Planning for Economic Recovery
APA’s 2012 Poll on Public Perceptions of Planning
68%
32%
75%
25%
67%
33%

3. Today’s Panel
68%
32%
75%
25%
67%
33%
W. Paul Farmer, FAICP
CEO, American Planning Association
William Anderson, FAICP
President, American Planning Association
Ellen Dunham Jones
Georgia Tech
Kevin Green
Midtown Alliance
Rodney Harrell
AARP

4. Today’s Environment
Demographics, Economy + Community
32% 25%
67%
33%
This work aims to put
specific data around the
question of how planners
and policy makers can
make their communities
more competitive and
prosperous in light of the
trends and preferences of
Millennials and Active
Boomers.
125 Million Millennials &
Active Boomers*
* Census Population Estimates 2012

5. Methodology
Poll was conducted online during March 2014 and consists of
1,040 adults aged 21 – 65 with at least two years of post High
School education. Harris Poll reviewed the questionnaire to
ensure objectivity and fielded the survey on behalf of APA. Other
than education level, the respondent groups are representative
of the nation.

6. Economic Anxiety
Continues
Worries Abound on Cost of
Living, Savings
Local + Metro Strategies
May Provide Path to Growth
New Approach to Economic
Development

7. New Directions for
Neighborhoods, Suburbs
Multiple Neighborhoods +
Generations but Common
Interest in Walkability,
Access
Millennials, Boomers
Share Key Interests,
Concerns More than
Conflict

8. Investing in Place
ATTITUDES AND OUTLOOK
ON THE ECONOMY

9. State of the U.S. Economy
Some people feel the U.S. economy is fundamentally sound
and other believe it is fundamentally flawed. Which is closer
to your belief?
NATIONAL
68%
32%
75%
25%
67%
33%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Flawed Sound
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

10. Economic Opportunity
When it comes to economic opportunities and financial security for
you personally, would you say your local economy offers more
than enough, just enough, or too few opportunities?
NATIONAL
59% 41% 51% 49% 60% 40%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
To few opportunities Just /More than enough opportunities
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

11. National Economic Recovery
NATIONAL
39%
29% 34% 35%
42%
22%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Worse Better
In next five years, do you expect the U.S. economy to get
better, get worse, or stay the same?
Same
32% 31% 36%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

12. Local Economic Recovery
NATIONAL
25%
37%
21%
40%
26%
30%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Worse Better
In next five years, do you expect the local economy to get
better, get worse, or stay the same?
Same
39% 40% 44%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

13. Personal Finance Recovery
NATIONAL
18%
35%
11%
32%
24%
37%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Worse Better
In next five years, do you expect your personal finance to get
better, get worse, or stay the same?
Same
47% 57%
38%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

14. Investing in Place
PLANNING FOR TODAY’S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

15. Growing the Local Economy
Some feel the best way to grow the economy is to recruit
companies to the area. Others feel it is to invest in local
schools, transportation choices, walkable areas and making the
area as attractive as possible. Which is closer to your belief?
NATIONAL
35%
65%
26%
74%
40% 60%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Recruit companies Invest in schools and community features
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

16. Talent and Generational Mobility
NATIONAL
46%
9%
35%
57% 35%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Not likely at all Somewhat to extremely likely
How likely is it that you will move to another part of your
state or another state in the next five years?
Don’t know
44%
55%
10% 8%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

17. Location Decisions
Which of the following are MOST important to you when
deciding where to live? Please select all that apply.
NAT
Economic factors, such as jobs and business growth
Living expenses, such as housing costs
Metro features, such as schools, and safe streets
Health and nature*
Kinds of people, such as diversity and mix of ages
Community engagement
MIL ABPercentage of priority
54%
79%
44%
53%
43%
22%
64%
83%
57%
52%
45%
25%
42%
80%
32%
59%
44%
20%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

18. Methodology
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

19. Investing in Place
COMMUNITIES +
COMPETITIVENESS

20. Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

21. Enough Transportation Options
Do you feel that there are enough non-car transportation
options available in your area?
NATIONAL
42%
58%
41%
59%
42%
58%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Yes No
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

22. Mode Preferences
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

23. Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

24. Aging in Place
NATIONAL
49%
Yes No
Do you feel your community
is doing enough to help people
who want to stay in their own
homes as they get older?
51%
This work aims to put
specific data around the
question of how planners
and policy makers can make
their communities more
competitive and prosperous
in light of the trends and
preferences of Millennials
and Active Boomers.
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

25. Aging in Place
NATIONAL
36%
4%
43%
7%
27%
3%
MILLENNIALS ACTIVE BOOMERS
Not at all important
Somewhat, Very, or Extremely important
How important is it to you to stay in your current home
as you get older?
Don’t know
60% 50% 69%
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

26. Planning for Hazards
Do you think your community currently
or will soon experience more intense or
extreme weather?
41%59%
75%
14%
Yes No
8%
Is it important to you that your area
have a plan for these changing
conditions and emergencies?
Yes No Don’t know
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

27. The ‘Sharing Economy’
Some people believe that Internet-
based apps for sharing cars, rides,
houses, or specialized equipment is a
new or more common element to the
economy that gives people more
flexibility than having to buy everything
for themselves. How important is this
“sharing economy” to you?
NATIONAL
41%
59%
27% 73%
MILLENNIALS
Not important
Somewhat to extremely important
Poll conducted March 2014 of U.S. adults aged 21
– 65 with at least two years of college.

29. “A key challenge facing
communities is devising policies
to attract and retain key
demographic groups by
investing in local assets while
dealing with concerns about
affordability and cost of living.”

30. Georgia Findings …
More likely to believe that there are not enough non-car
transportation options
More likely to be at least somewhat interested in moving in the
next five years
Georgia Difference from
Nat’l. Avg.
All Surveyed 69% +11
Millennials 66% +7
Active Boomers 76% +18
Georgia Difference from
Nat’l. Avg.
All Surveyed 57% +13
Millennials 75% +20
Active Boomers 47% +47

31. Georgia Findings …
Top community preference if one can afford it: Walkable
suburbs
More likely to support helping local start-up firms as an
economic development strategy

32. Georgia Findings … GA Millennials are
More likely to be mobile in the next five years (75% - 20 points
higher than the national average)
More optimistic about the local economy (49% - 9 points higher
than the national average) and personal financial future
(76% - 19 points higher than the national average)
80% believe the ‘sharing economy’ is at least somewhat
important
More interested in diversity (+9), access to professional
networks (+14) and community engagement (+11) as a
community feature

33. Georgia Findings …
GA Active Boomers are
More likely to live in suburbs where most people drive to most
places (57% - 18 points higher than the national average)
But less likely to want live there in the future assuming they can
afford it (3%)
More likely to believe that there are not enough non-car
transportation options (76% - 18 points higher than the
national average)
More likely to be mobile in the next five (47% - 12 points higher
than the national average)

34. Panel Comments +
Questions
download the full report at
www.planning.org/policy/polls