Top Reasons 24 Million Americans Moved Last Year
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Americans are moving, but not in the ways you’d expect.
While fewer people relocate today compared to decades past, more than 24 million movers in 2023 made strategic choices to improve their housing, careers, or overall lifestyles.
New research from Rent Cafe highlights the top reasons Americans changed addresses last year. The 24,239,188 Americans who relocated in 2023 make up the lowest number of movers in the last five years.
Using IPUMS data for 107 U.S. metro areas, Rent Cafe grouped these Americans into three categories:
- Housing (better or more affordable homes)
- Jobs (new job opportunities or back-to-office policies)
- Lifestyle (warmer weather, lower climate risk, health reasons, retirement)
Over half of those who moved in 2023 (13 million) did so in pursuit of better housing, while another five million were chasing job opportunities.
More than 7% of all the movers surveyed packed up and moved to achieve homeownership status. And, in the lifestyle category, another 6% moved in pursuit of a better neighborhood—which can make all the difference in a mover’s quality of life.
Why Americans Moved in 2023: Housing, Jobs, and Lifestyle
In an era of remote work and flexibility, you might expect Americans to settle into their current homes. However, new data shows that millions are still on the move, chasing better housing, career opportunities, and improved lifestyles.
Here’s what the numbers reveal about why people relocated last year (2023):
- “Wanted newer or better housing” (14.6%)
- “New job or job transfer” (13.2%)
- “To establish own household” (10.3%)
- “For cheaper housing” (9.9%)
- “Wanting to own home–not rent” (7.2%)
- “Wanted better neighborhood” (5.6%)
- “For easier commute” (5.4%)
- “Health reasons” (1.8%)
- “To look for work” or “Lost job” (1.6%)
- “Retired” (1.4%)
- “Change of climate” (0.5%)
Housing Still Reigns Supreme
Housing remains the top reason Americans move, accounting for over half of last year’s relocations. And the top three of the 10 best metros for housing-related moves are in the Midwest:
- Chicago, IL (27.2% of those moving to Chicago wanted “new or better housing”)
- Akron, OH (25.9%)
- Kansas City, MO (22.3%)
Three California metros ranked high among those moving in search of less expensive housing, compared to the state’s average, not to mention popular metros like San Francisco and Los Angeles:
- Modesto, CA (22%)
- Stockton, CA (19.2%)
- Fresno, CA (16.7%)
New York, Boston, and Los Angeles made the top 10 mainly due to movers who relocated in search of new or better housing, which make sense with all three major hubs ranking in the top 20 metros with the highest number of apartments to open in 2024.
Movers in search of better neighborhoods were most likely to move to—
- Scranton, PA (nearly 40%)
- Buffalo, NY (27.8%)
- Grand Rapids, MI (around 27%)
Jobs Continue to Motivate Movers
Despite the rise of remote work, jobs remain a strong motivator, with 13% of movers relocating for career opportunities. This trend highlights how flexibility allows workers to chase opportunities in new locations.
Job-related relocations by the numbers: 5 million Americans moved for job opportunities last year. And among top relocation destinations, Augusta, GA, led the nation with roughly one-third of new residents relocating for work.
The top 10 destination metros for job-related moves:
- Augusta, GA (32.7%)
- Fayetteville, NC (18.7%)
- Columbia, SC (18.4%)
- Huntsville, AL (18.2%)
- Washington, D.C. (17.6%)
- Pittsburgh, PA (17.4%)
- Charleston, SC (17.3%)
- Baltimore, MD (17.2%)
- Madison, WI (17.1%)
- Pensacola, FL (17%)
The Southeast dominates job-related moves for three reasons:
- Expanding tech and manufacturing industries
- High-demand employers like Amazon and Meta
- Affordability combined with economic growth
Lifestyle Choices Are a Growing Consideration
The Southeast also takes the lead among popular destinations for Americans moving in pursuit of a better lifestyle—a rising factor in relocation decisions. These movers are prioritizing health, retirement, and better weather as they seek to upgrade their quality of life.
Lifestyle-driven moves include:
- Health reasons: 1.8% of movers, with Pensacola, FL (13.9%) leading the pack.
- Retirement: 1.4%, led by Worcester, MA (~10%) and Provo, UT (8.9%).
- Climate change: Less than 1%, but sunny destinations like Santa Rosa, CA, and San Diego, CA, attract many.
Top 10 metros for movers wanting to level up their lifestyle:
- Pensacola, FL (13.9%)
- Charleston, SC (13.8%)
- Fayetteville, NC (10.2%)
- Jacksonville, FL (10%)
- Austin, TX (8.7%)
- Lakeland, FL (8.3%)
- Fort Myers, FL (7%)
- Stockton, CA (6.8%)
- Richmond, VA (6.7%)
- Charlotte, NC (6.2%)
As popular as Florida is for retirees, the top-ranking destination metro for Americans moving due to retirement is Worcester, MA, with nearly 10% relocating here for that reason, presumably because Worcester is known for its easy access to high-quality health care. Next in line was Provo, UT, chosen by 8.9% of retirement-minded movers.
What These Trends Mean for the Real Estate Market
The data reveals a paradox: while remote work untethers Americans from office locations, it also enables strategic relocations for better housing, jobs, and quality of life.
For real estate professionals, this means adapting to client priorities:
- Highlight affordability and lifestyle perks in Midwestern and Southeastern metros.
- Market to remote workers who are leveraging flexibility to relocate.
- Target Millennials and solo renters, who represent growing demographics.
Most Americans aren’t moving for a change of scenery; they’re moving in pursuit of opportunities to improve their lives. Whether it’s a better home, career growth, or sunny skies, these trends will continue shaping real estate in 2025 and beyond.
Posted by Sarah Lentz | Dec 12, 2024 | Housing Market
https://nowbam.com/top-reasons-24-million-americans-moved-last-year/
@ChuckBarberini – #ChuckBarberiniRealEstate – @ChuckBarberiniRealEstate