Bradford University surveyed British-Pakistani men aged 16-38 in the city as part of an initiative to analyse their insights and experiences.
It found most of the men considered themselves British and had a positive connection and loyalty to Bradford.
Despite experiences of racism, poverty and other inequalities they had a positive outlook on living in the city.
They saw it as a city of opportunity and found that community and family links provided a "comfort zone".
In contrast to their parents or grandparents, they saw Pakistan as a place of heritage, not a present or future homeland. They were more likely to spend than save and less likely to send money to relatives in Pakistan.
In the study, carried out for the York-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation, arranged marriages were not universally viewed as the preferred way of choosing a partner while forced marriages were seen as un-Islamic and likely to decline with future generations.
Their faith was an important part of their lives, and they all defined themselves as Muslim, but with varying degrees of religious practice. They did not feel Islam conflicted with their sense of being British.
One of the 25 participants said he felt committed to Bradford.
He added: "Some people support a footie team – I support what's around me. Bradford's my city, Undercliffe is my own backyard. I can't see myself leaving here for anywhere else."
A few expressed anxiety about what they perceived to be raised levels of prejudice against Islam following the September 11 and July 7 atrocities.
One interviewee said: "Somebody asked me – one of the passengers in the cab: 'What do you think of the bombings?' I went ballistic…I said, 'What do you want me to think? You idiot, I think exactly the same way as you do.'"
Prof Charles Husband, who co-authored the report, said: "While there was some generational continuity of cultural values and norms, significant changes also appeared to be taking place."