Moving Statistics and Trends in Moving

The rising cost of living is causing many families and individuals to relocate for a better quality of life. In 2025, over 15 million individuals relocated, which is slightly less than 5% of the total population. This is significantly lower than the number of moves in 2024, which was a staggering 24 million. 

Here's a look at other moving trends and statistics we have our eyes on:

Moving Statistics for the U.S. Population

Population movements from state to state have changed in recent years. Some highlights from the most recent American census are as follows:

• Around 15 million Americans moved in 2025. 
• In 2025, California had the greatest percentage of individuals moving out of the state.
• Southern states continue to drive population growth.
• Population decrease data shows that California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas have the slowest growth rates in the U.S.
• The national average gross rent as of 2025 is $1,600 to $1,700 per month.
• Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $400,000
• As of 2025, American families may expect a median annual income of $83,730
• Idaho has seen an uptick in inbound migration for the second year in a row

Moving Trends

In a recent survey by American Home Shield, over 41% of Americans plan to move in 2026. 34% of them plan to move within their current city, while 26% plan on moving to a new state. Millennials and Gen Z are the largest demographics planning to relocate in 2026. 

In addition to overall growth, the population of the United States has seen notable shifts in several regions during the last decade. Some notable changes include:

• The top moving destinations were primarily in the South, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
• Over 32.6 million Americans work remotely, which offers more flexibility for relocation.
• The top three factors for moving in 2025: cost of living, affordability and work flexibility.

Why Are People Moving: The Top Concerns

While most would think the rise of remote work and affordability were the two primary factors for moves in 2025, the top concerns were actually:

• The desire for a lower cost of living
• Need a bigger home
• Relocating for work
• Change of scenery 
• Recently married or had kids
• Moving closer to family

Most Expensive Months to Move

According to moving statistics and trends, the most expensive months to move are driven by demand. Summer and spring months tend to see more moves, which can increase the overall cost. If you have flexibility, here are the three months to avoid:

Least Expensive Months to Move

If you are flexible with your upcoming move in 2026, consider planning your move during one of the least expensive months to relocate. According to moving industry statistics, here's the top three least expensive months:

Top 5 States Most People Are Leaving

Many have left various states over the last several years for multiple reasons, including politics, the property market and rising living expenses.

In the following table, we can see which states had the greatest departure rates in 2025. Results from our 2025 U.S. Migration Report include the following:

• Most individuals left the state of California in 2025.
• Despite being the most populous state in the U.S., California saw 60% of the moves that occurred in the state be outbound.
• The top five states for departures (CA, NJ, IL, PA, TX) are among the top 20 most densely populated states.
  

Top 5 Most Popular Destinations for New Residents

Growth in population is uneven throughout the states. In fact, according to the moving statistics, you may be astonished to find out where the majority of Americans are relocating to.

The 2025 U.S. Migration Report by North American Van Lines for 2025 uncovered some fascinating moving statistics concerning people's relocation destinations. In 2024, Idaho was the most moved-to state, with inbound moves at 71%. Idaho has been the top inbound state for the second year in the row.

• In 2023, South Carolina topped the nation in inbound moves by 66%.

Most Expensive States to Move From

In 2025, a handful of states were significantly more expensive to move from. The reasons vary from high demand, inflation and lack of qualified movers in more rural areas. Here’s how the cost of moving trends vary:

Least Expensive States to Move From

There were also a handful of states significantly cheaper to move from in 2025. Here's how the moving trends vary:

Sources:

• https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration.html
• https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/geographic-mobility/state-to-state-migration.html
• https://www.northamerican.com/migration-map
• https://eig.org/2022-county-population-trends/
• https://www.hireahelper.com/moving-statistics/migration-report/2024/
• https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/01/return-home-migration.html

Conclusion

Changes in moving trends vary every year. Many of these changes are driven by shifts in lifestyle, needs and work. The rise of remote work has given Americans more opportunities and flexibility. People can now pick and choose where they want to live based on the cost of living and their lifestyle rather than the proximity to the office.

As we look towards 2026, we’ll continue to watch the growing moving trends and changes. We hope this guide can help you better understand where people are moving to or from within the United States.