There's a cycle that a lot of people go through when they graduate. They've been told or are predisposed to the idea that cities are the place to be. And they can be like a campus - lots of places to meet others, etc. So they happily move to the city.
But then something happens. They get married and realize the schools there suck and are completely unaccountable to meddling from parents. So they have to move to find a decent school.
Or, they or their spouse or friend gets mugged, or their house gets burgled, or any number of other crimes that are prevalent in cities run by a single political party. So, they move to escape the crime.
If people have the means to move, they will do so to get out from under high crime, high tax, low service regimes.
Cities are like companies the big ones are ineffective at management or providing services. So when you need city services you go to a smaller city to actually get them.
But then something happens. They get married and realize the schools there suck and are completely unaccountable to meddling from parents. So they have to move to find a decent school.
Or, they or their spouse or friend gets mugged, or their house gets burgled, or any number of other crimes that are prevalent in cities run by a single political party. So, they move to escape the crime.
If people have the means to move, they will do so to get out from under high crime, high tax, low service regimes.