How Often Do Americans Move, and Why?

How many times have you moved in the last 5 years? None? Once? More than once?

Moving within the same country is a fascinating and yet complex phenomenon which can have a huge impact on the demographics and the economies of the affected areas. It’s interesting to know how often these relocations occur and what the usual reasons behind each move may be.

How often do Americans move?

How often a household moves depends on its circumstances. Moves may be local, interstate or international.

Housing needs, work, relationships and retirement can all affect the decision. The sections below look at these reasons in more detail.

Cost Estimator

Enter route details for best prices

Save up to 40% off moving costs.

My ZIP

Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming To state

To city

Moving internationally? Get My Free Quote

Save up to 40% off moving costs.

How Much do Movers Cost?

Save up to 40% on your upcoming move and get a quote from reputable moving experts.

Call now for a cost estimate:

(800) 989-8833

Available 24/7

Call now for a cost estimate:

(800) 989-8833

Available 24/7

As Featured On:

Why do Americans move?

Here are the typical reasons why Americans relocate to other areas:

Job-related relocation

Companies, like people, are also trying to cut overhead costs by relocating to another city, state or foreign country. This change means that the company’s employees and their families will also have to move as well if they would like to keep their current jobs.

Moreover, finding a better job in another area within the country or abroad is a strong incentive for most to relocate. Or if the commuting time to work approaches or exceeds an hour one way, some people would prefer to move closer to their workplace than to waste two hours, at least, in traffic every single workday.

Home becomes too small

In the majority of cases, the homes of first-time owners feel smaller and smaller with each newly-added family member. And therefore, a move to a larger house with more living space becomes a necessity.

Home becomes too big

Downsizing is a good option for people whose children have moved out from the family home. If all of a sudden the maintenance of a large house gets to be a burden and the maintenance costs start climbing, relocating to a smaller home should definitely be considered.

The grass is always greener…

People tend to want the things they don’t have. So, a bigger and more luxurious home in a beautiful place with pleasant climatic conditions is a logical choice for any individual who can afford it.

Marital status

When couples move in together or get married, it’s only natural that one of the parties relocate to the other person’s home. Sadly enough, break-ups are a good reason for people to want to move away.

Retirement

After a lifetime of hard work, most retirees feel that they have earned their ticket to a warm, beautiful and peaceful place where they can enjoy the remainder of their lives. And no matter whether the move will be to a retirement community or to any of the top retirement destinations abroad, the best way to decide if such relocation is the right choice for retired people or not is a long-term vacation of several months to the selected destination. Such a vacation will help them see if a permanent move there will fit their new lifestyle.

Neighborhood is no longer the same

Some neighborhoods change for the worse economically or socially, or even both. In fact, the change in the immediate surroundings may be so drastic that people will perceive the living conditions as intolerable and be forced to find a new home elsewhere.

Health issues

People with physical ailments, such as back or knee problems, will find it hard to climb up and down the stairs of a two-story house on a daily basis. Therefore, a one-story home will be much more practical in such cases. Or, for various reasons, the aging population may choose to enjoy a much more tranquil lifestyle at assisted living housing.

Pursuing a dream

And there are those who have had the itch to change their lifestyles drastically and put their time and effort into realizing a life-long dream of theirs – to travel and explore the world, to pursue a hobby or to just be less dependent on material things. These are the people who are willing to relocate frequently in search of the right place and the right people, in search of the calling that will help them find new meaning in their lives.

All things considered, statistical data remain nothing but mere numbers. The reasons behind each move are much more personal, unique and more often than not – complicated.

And whenever the time to relocate to a new location comes around the corner and asks for you by name, the first step of the preparation process is usually to get an idea of how much the move will cost you.

Also Read

Office Moving Checklist: How to Plan the Perfect Office Move

Moving to a new office can be a serious task for a business - an office relocation job that often proves to be... Read More

Boston Moving Guide – Info and Advice

History, culture, green open spaces, and a thriving economy await you in Boston Boston is one of the most... Read More

10 Hot Tips for Moving in the Summer

It’s no secret that summer is the most popular season to move house – the weather is usually nice (warm and dry),... Read More