The Best Cities for Gen-X

“The Forgotten Generation”

Our data analysis uncovers the best cities for Gen-Xers in 2024, based on a range of factors related to city infrastructure, economy, liveability and comfort.
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At Blueground, we strive to understand what motivates our customers when choosing a city to live and work in, so we can better meet their evolving needs.

Generation X—born between 1965 and 1980—now holds many leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, having experienced the digital revolution with marked differences from their Baby Boomer predecessors. While Gen-Xers share some forward-looking optimism with Millennials, especially in embracing technological progress, they are generally less bullish, often tempered by concerns about societal change and economic stability. Having witnessed both significant advancements and new challenges, they are pragmatic and value security in both their professional and family lives. Our study compares the family friendly qualities, economic conditions, lifestyle offerings, and overall liveability of cities across the globe to determine which cities best cater to this generation at the height of their careers, while preparing their teenage or young adult children for the future, and planning for retirement.

Our research focused on four main aspects: city infrastructure, economic factors, liveability, and comfort. We began by shortlisting 350 metropolitan areas with sufficient, reliable datasets, narrowing it down to 75 cities known for attracting professionals and families.

We first evaluated city infrastructure, which is fundamental for families in this stage of life. Strong healthcare systems ensure access to quality medical care, mobility infrastructure supports efficient commuting, suitable housing provides security and stability, and good education is critical for preparing their children for the future.

Next, we assessed the economic factors that influence financial planning, a key concern for Generation X as they balance their careers with retirement preparation. Financial security, retirement age, income tax, and inflation directly impact their ability to save, invest, and retire comfortably.

Following this, we analysed the liveability of each city, as quality of life is central to the Gen-X mindset. Cultural opportunities, vibrant dining and entertainment options, and family-friendly venues enrich their daily lives and offer fulfilling experiences outside of work.

Finally, we considered personal comfort, which plays a significant role in a family’s long-term satisfaction with a city. High levels of safety, clean air, ample green spaces, and ease of travel contribute to both the physical and mental well-being of Gen-Xers and their families.

This study resulted in a ranking of cities that best meet the needs of Generation X, allowing them to balance work, family, and lifestyle while planning for the future.

How to interpret this data

City Infrastructure
Healthcare
Score
Mobility
Score
Housing
Score
Education
Score
Economy
Financial Security
Score
Average Retirement Age
Age in years
Top Marginal Income Tax
%
Inflation Rate
% increase
Liveability
Culture
Score
Bars and Restaurants
Score
Concerts and Events
Score
Entertainment for Families
Score
Comfort
Safety
Score
Air Quality
Score
Public Parks and Spaces
Score
Ease of Travel
Score
Each column is ranked highest to lowest and is sortable. Each factor has been given a score out of 100 – the higher the figure, the better the city performs. The full methodology explaining how each factor was measured is at the bottom of the page.

Methodology

The Gen X Index reveals the best cities for people born in Generation X in countries around the world, with a focus on infrastructure, economy, liveability and comfort.

City Selection

We constructed an initial dataset from cities appearing on lists of main logistical hubs, economic centers and city livability rankings, including all Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and all cities participating in the Eurostat Urban Audit.
A shortlist of 250 cities was created from this dataset based on initial scores on infrastructure, economy and international connections, and the dataset extended to include all factors covered in the study. After removing cities due to data availability or data quality concerns, we selected the highest scoring 75 cities for presentation in the city index table.

Factors and Scoring

We used multiple indicators as contributing components when factors are presented as a “Score”. The underlying indicators were first standardised using a Z-Score [z = (x-μ)/σ; μ=indicator mean; σ=indicator standard deviation] normalization procedure. The final score was computed as a weighted average of the component Z-Scores, and the resulting score normalized to a scale of 50 to 100 using min-max normalization [(value - min)/(max-min)*50+50]. The floor of 50 for the scale was chosen to emphasise that the locations presented in the final dataset represent the highest ranking locations chosen from a shortlist of high-ranking locations.
Overall Score Calculation
The score shown in the column labelled “Overall Score” was calculated as a weighted average of the included factor scores, and normalized using min-max normalization as described above. This means that the highest scoring city in the index receives a score of 100 while the lowest scoring city in the index receives a score of 50. As cities not included in the table were included in the normalization calculation, the lowest scoring city shown in the table has a score above 50.

City Infrastructure

Healthcare (Score)

A score that reflects the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services. A higher score indicates greater accessibility, quality and effectiveness in the provision of healthcare services and the national, state and local levels. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Healthcare Quality and Access Index
  • Number of hospital beds per 1k inhabitants
  • Universal healthcare coverage
  • Healthcare expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product
  • Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure per capita

Sources: Institute for Health and Metrics Evaluation (IHME), World Health Organization (WHO)

Mobility (Score)

A score that reflects the quality of each city's mobility infrastructure. A higher score indicates the city has a greater accessibility, efficiency and sustainability in its mobility infrastructure. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Traffic inefficiency index, Average time spent in traffic
  • Quality of public transportation
  • CO2 emissions from vehicles

Sources: TomTom, Local survey data

Housing (Score)

A score that reflects how easy it is to rent or purchase affordable housing in each location. A higher score indicates a healthier real estate market and a more accessible and affordable rental market. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Availability of apartment listings;
  • Average rental prices divided by the city’s average salary
  • Yearly mortgage interest rate (%) for 20 years
  • Average price per m2 to buy an apartment in the city centre divided by the average city salary
  • Rate of decoupling of real estate prices from city incomes and rents
  • Standards of living and housing quality

Sources: Property listings in each location, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); UBS

Education (Score)

A score that reflects the overall quality of education within the country. A higher score means the city enjoys a higher quality of the education system. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Overall quality of the education system
  • Quality of primary and secondary education
  • Expenditure per primary and secondary student as a % of GDP per capita

Sources: World Economic Forum (WEF); UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Economy

Financial Security (Score)

A score that reflects the income and financial security within a jurisdiction, as well as the welfare and fiscal environment in each city. A higher score indicates the city has a more inclusive, favourable and solid economic environment. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Income security index 
  • Pension income coverage
  • Old-age poverty rate
  • Government efficiency, rule of law and business scores
  • Tax burden
  • GINI Index
  • Unemployment rate

Sources: Freedom House; World Bank; World Health Organization (WHO); International Labour Organization (ILO)

Average Retirement Age (Age in years)

The average retirement age displays the average age at which a person can access a full retirement plan. The value reflects the national statutory retirement age, averaged by gender where such differentiation applies. Options for early retirement and specific arrangements based on national collective agreements are not included.

Sources: National social security institutions

Top Marginal Income Tax (%)

The top marginal income tax value refers to the highest tax bracket applicable to taxable income. The value indicates the combined top marginal tax rate of local, state/regional and national levels, excluding jurisdiction-specific deductions and social security contributions.

Sources: National tax authorities

Inflation Rate (% increase)

The inflation rate refers to the annual percent change of average consumer prices for the year 2023.

Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Liveability

Culture (Score)

A score that reflects the extent to which it is possible to access leisure and cultural activities in each city. A higher score indicates a strong cultural offering in absolute terms, as well as in relation to population size and area. The score is based on:
  • The number of museums and art exposition venues–with a higher weight given to world-renowned venues
  • The number of theatres and performing arts venues
  • The number of sights and landmarks
  • The number of UNESCO World Heritage sites

Sources: Travel review platforms; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Bars and Restaurants (Score)

A score that reflects the availability of bars and restaurants. A higher score means the city has a greater presence of food and drinks establishments, in absolute terms and per capita, as well as in terms of quality. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • The number of bars, restaurants and food establishment in the city, both in total and on a per capita basis–with a higher weight given to world-renowned establishments

Sources: Google local listings, OpenStreetMap contributors, Travel review platforms

Concerts and Events (Score)

A score that reflects the frequency of concerts in the city. A higher score means the city hosts concerts more frequently, in absolute terms and per capita. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • The number of concerts in 2023 and 2024
  • Number of publishing houses and record stores

Sources: Artist tour announcements, Global Music Record Store Locator

Entertainment for Families (Score)

A score that reflects the presence of venues and organisations providing entertainment activities and experiences tailored to families. A higher score means the city has a greater presence and variety of entertainment venues, in absolute terms and per capita. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • The number of theme parks, arcades and entertainment venues
  • The number of outdoor experiences for families

Sources: Google local listings, OpenStreetMap contributors, Travel review platform

Comfort

Safety (Score)

The degree of a city’s safety in more than a dozen key areas, including environmental, social and infrastructural security. Indicators include statistics on injuries and fatalities, damage caused at an economic level, public opinion data, and data on the vulnerability of a location to particular hazards. A higher score reflects a safer city. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Vulnerability to natural disasters, conflict, health crises, socio-economic issues; lack of coping capacity to crises; infrastructure risk
  • Average homicides and non-negligible manslaughter rates for 100k inhabitants
  • Survey data on perception of security (walking alone at night, fear of home invasion, etc)
  • Climate risk (increase in incidence of extreme weather phenomena, fatalities and economic damage)

Sources: INFORM Risk Index (European Commission); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Eurostat; US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Germanwatch; National law enforcement and statistical agencies (FBI, BKA, Australian Bureau of Statistics etc.); Crowdsourced surveys

Air Quality (Score)

A score that reflects the air quality in each location. A higher score indicates a city with better air quality and lower concentration of pollutants. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Total Air Quality Index
  • Average concentration of a range of atmospheric gases, fine particles and anthropogenic pollutants (Pm2.5, Pm10, So2, No2, O3)
  • Pollution indexes
  • Ambient air pollution attributable death rate per 100k population

Sources: World Air Quality Index (aqicn.org); World Health Organisation (WHO)

Public Parks and Spaces (Score)

A score that reflects the extent to which citizens can access green spaces and outdoor locations such as natural parks, urban green spaces and beaches. A higher score indicates a city with more accessible parks and public spaces. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • Number of parks in absolute terms, per 100k inhabitants and per square meter
  • Percentage of urban areas taken up by open public spaces
  • The urban population that lives within 400m of open public spaces
  • Square metres of green area per capita

Sources: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Travel review platforms, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Ease of Travel (Score)

A score that reflects the degree of international connectivity that the city offers. A higher score reflects a well-connected city that affords citizens the ability to travel via air, rail or road. The score is constructed from the following underlying indicators:
  • The number of passengers using city airports (<50 km)
  • The number of passengers travelling via national railroad network
  • Quality of air transport infrastructure
  • The quality of rail and road infrastructure

Sources: International Air Transport Association (IATA); International Union of Railways (UIC); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); World Economic Forum (WEF)