RentCafe: Housing, Jobs, Lifestyle Driving American Moves

(Image courtesy of RentCafe; Breakout image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska/Pexels.com)

RentCafe, Santa Barbara, Calif., reported that approximately 24 million Americans moved last year, citing housing, jobs and lifestyle choices as motivations.

That was the lowest number in 25 years, however.

Housing was the most-reported reason, with 14.6% of movers looking for a new or better home.

Despite remote-work numbers still sitting higher than they did pre-pandemic, 13.2% of movers were relocating for a new job or transfer.

Another 10.3% were establishing their own household. Other reasons included searching for cheaper housing, wanting to own instead of rent, desiring a better neighborhood, seeking a better commute, health reasons, to look for work, retiring or wanting a change of climate.

Chicago had the highest share of people who moved looking for new or better housing, at 27.2%. Rounding out the top three for that metric were Akron, Ohio, at 25.9% and Kansas City, Mo., at 22.3%.

For movers looking to establish their own household, Albany N.Y., saw the highest chunk, at 25.6%.

Less expensive California metros saw a number of movers aiming for cheaper housing–with 22% of those who relocated to Modesto, Calif., reporting that search. No. 2 was Stockton, Calif., at 19.2%. Southern cities such as McAllen, Texas, Memphis, Tenn., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Deltana, Fla., also saw a number of movers looking for a better deal.

The highest percentages of Americans who moved to own rather than rent were also concentrated in the south, with Greensboro, N.C., and Lakeland, Fla., topping that list.

Scranton, Pa., was the leading area for movers seeking a better neighborhood.

In terms of those moving for work-related reasons, the highest share of movers who relocated for a new job or transfer were in Augusta, Ga., with nearly one-third of movers fitting into that category. Rounding out the top three are Fayetteville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C.

The Southeast also attracted movers looking for a better lifestyle. Pensacola, Fla., had the largest number of movers making a change for health reasons, at 13.9%, followed by Charleston, S.C., Fayetteville, N.C., Jacksonville, Fla., and Austin, Texas.

Surprisingly, the top metro area with movers citing retirement wasn’t in Florida, however. Topping that list was Worcester, Mass., at 10%, followed by Provo, Utah, at 8.9%.

RentCafe’s research team analyzed IPUMS CPS data for the largest 107 metropolitan areas in the nation for its report.