UPDATE: See the amazing new moving trends for 2019.

It’s the most wonderful season of the year, but before we deck the halls with balls of jolly, let’s take the time to review and analyze the events that have happened during 2015. It’s the time to reflect on the past and think about the future.

With the annual MyMovingReviews relocation data survey, we tried to give you a complete picture of the 2015 trends. We have made some comparisons with the last year’s moving industry report as well. Take a look at some interesting highlights from this year’s moving season, emphasizing on the most popular destinations for moving, the busiest time for the moving industry, relocation costs, regional mobility trends and last but not least, the reasons behind the moves. What makes people relocate?



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<p align="center"><img src="https://cloud.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2015-moving-stats-mymovingreviews.jpg" title="Moving Trends: 2015 Annual Relocation Data Survey" width="680" height="6285" /><br /> Moving Trends: 2015 Annual Relocation Data Survey by <a href="https://www.mymovingreviews.com" target="_blank">MyMovingReviews</a>.</p>

Move Distance

More than half of the people who required a quote to estimate their moving cost were relocating to another state 60.6%. However, compared to the previous year, there has been a decline in the interstate moves. 9.6% of the people who have moved in 2015 shipped a vehicle.

Move Sizes

The majority of the moves in 2015 were small-size moves – 1 and 2-bedroom homes. And, this comes as no surprise, as there are more small-home dwellers as whole. The trend remains steady for last few years.

Partial moves – 12.48%

Studio – 6.97%

1 Bedroom home – 39.08%

2 Bedroom home – 19.83%

3 Bedroom home – 13.67%

4 Bedroom home – 7.93%

Move Days

Friday is an indisputable winner when it comes to the most preferred day to move. Sunday and Thursday remain the ones with the lowest activity.

Monday – 17.38%

Tuesday – 12.51%

Wednesday – 13.39%

Thursday – 12.13%

Friday – 18.95%

Saturday – 18.42%

Sunday – 7.19%

The busiest day in the moving industry this year is July 31st. August 1st and June 30th were the second and third busiest days.

Busiest Months

Summer has long been known to be a hectic period for movers. Most people who undertake relocation prefer this season due to the favorable climate conditions. Greater number of the moves, about 61.56 % happened during June, July, August, May and September.

June – 13.97%

July – 13.95%

August – 13.86%

May – 10%

September – 9.78%

October – 8.55%

April – 6.90%

March – 6.52%

November – 5.34%

February – 5%

January – 3.69%

December – 2.33%

Move Routes

It seems that people move to the western and the southern states. Compared to the year 2014, when people moved to the South and East the most, this year 3 from the 5 busiest routes lead to California. The busiest route in 2015, from New York to Florida is 1151 miles long. People who made the move spent $ 3353 on average on their interstate move. The second busiest route from California to Texas is 1408 miles long. The median price for this route is $3177. The longest route from Massachusetts to California(3098 miles) costs about $4439 on average.

The least engaged in the moving industry states include Nebraska, Alaska and South Dakota.

Moving within the state

The ten states where people have moved the most locally are: California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Massachusetts and Ohio.

Without any drastic changes, the first five states where people have moved the most remain the same for the last couple of years. However, there has been a change in the number of moves in the other 5 positions – Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia have dropped out of the chart, being replaced by Michigan, Georgia, and Ohio.

Migration Flows

Americans move to the South and West. The only big change from the last year here is that California has fallen off the chart, giving way to Nevada. New York, Illinois and New Jersey keep losing population in terms of migration, as most people move out of these states than to them.

States with the most immigrants : Florida, Texas, Washington, North Carolina, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and Nevada;

: Florida, Texas, Washington, North Carolina, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and Nevada; States with the most out-migrants: New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia and Ohio.

The ten cities that have gained population due to migration the most:

– Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Las Vegas, NV and Los Angeles, CA.

There are no significant changes compared to the data from the last year, besides Portland climbing up to top 3.

The ten cities that have lost population due to migration the most:

– New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Washington DC; Pittsburgh, PA; Milwaukee, WI; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Arlington, VA; Minneapolis, MN; Columbus, OH.

New York City, Chicago and Washington DC have stayed in the top 3 positions when it comes to cities losing residents due to migration this year.

Desire to Move and Residential Mobility

Earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau has published a report concerning households’ desire to move. Generally, dissatisfaction with current habitat leads to a strong desire to relocate. However, this desire shouldn’t be taken for an intent that results in relocation.

Nearly 1 in 10 American households reported that they are not satisfied with their current place to an extent that they want to move out. On the other hand, the majority of respondents did not actually move in the next year.

Younger Americans with lower income who rent their current home are more inclined to desire to move. Other factors serving as trigger point include neighborhood poverty and racial composition.

Generally, the same factors are associated with the desire to move and moving. Nevertheless, changes in family status (marriage, birth of a child, divorce) lead to moving, whereas disability status is associated with desiring to move without always resulting in moving.

In the end, report shows that those who desire to move and do move have reported a greater satisfaction with their new residence.

Source: Desire to Move and Residential Mobility

Reasons to Move

The highest number of the moves during the last couple of years have been real estate related. Most of the people who have undertaken relocation wanted new or a better home, or a cheaper home. That is why it shouldn’t be surprising why people flee to the South. According to Zillow estimates, home values in states like Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia have been under the U.S. average of 183K, offering ones of the most affordable housing.

The second most frequent factors behind the moves have been family related – change in marital status, establishing own household being the highest number of reasons to move.

The third major factor to be considered is job. Most of the job related moves have been made either to start a new job (incl. a job transfer) or to be closer to work. Far less people have undertaken a move to look for work, which is understandable as moving to a new place needs a lot of funds. Military members, educators and those with health service and wholesale and retail trade jobs have relocated the most. People who work in the agricultural and mining industry are much less inclined to relocate for their job.

Mobility in U.S. Regions

Of all four U.S. Regions, the only one gaining population in terms of migration is the South. People seem to flee from the Midwest the most, next is the Northeast and the West seem to be losing population in a much lower pace – the rate almost equals zero.

The two largest groups of people who have moved to the South from 2014 to 2015 receive an income of either between $10 000 and $20 000, or $75 000 and above. Contrary, the largest group moving to the Northeast has income below $10 000. The latter can be explained with the fact that many of the migrants moving to the eastern states are actually students. Their income comes mostly from sponsors – their families or organizations and institutions providing scholarships.

When it comes to labor force status, more unemployed immigrants than out-migrants have moved to the Northeast. Once again, the Northeast is long known to be a hub for students from all over the world. The South has attracted more population who are not in labor force of all groups and of all regions. One of the factors behind this statistic is home affordability. Home values in most southern states are even below the U.S. average ($183K), which is a great benefit for Americans who are retiring. Army employees flee to the South as well. The West region has gained more employed migrants – the unemployed seem to move out of the state.

Those related to the Armed Forces, Construction, Financial activities and Transportation and Utilities are the highest number Americans who have moved to southern states. More people working in the Manufacturing and the Wholesale and Retail trade moved to the Northeast than out of these states. The three major industries that have drawn more migrants than out-migrants in western states are “Professional and business services”, “Educational and health services” and “Financial activities”.

Sources: Geographical Mobility: 2014 to 2015, United States Home Prices & Values

Here is a slideshow with the infographic:

Check out the data for 2017, 2014, 2013 and 2012