Morse Moving & Storage is proud to be an agent of Allied Van Lines, which is one of the largest van lines in the country. Allied has recently released its Allied State Magnet Report, which tracks relocation and immigration patterns across the United States over the course of the past year. This report includes what states and cities have seen the biggest influx of new residents, as well as which states and cities have seen the most people leave them in 2022. Continue reading for the biggest relocation trends in the United States in the last 12 months.

2022 US Moving Trends

In 2022 overall, Allied’s data has shown that fewer people on average moved from their current homes in 2022 than they did in 2021 and 2020. The rates of those moving over 2022 lowered up to 20% as the year progressed and in relation to the year prior.

A big reason many cite for these trends is the spike in inflation rates, housing, and rental rates over the past year. Mortgage interest rates, alongside inflation, have also been skyrocketing which makes people less likely to move and seek out a mortgage. These trends, as well as falling average wages and lack of salary growth, in addition to the rising costs of daily living, have made fewer people have been financially able or willing to move.

When looking at moving trends in 2021 in comparison to this past year, it’s clear that the big moves spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic have slowed down significantly. Since so many people found themselves working from home during these years, more felt inclined to make huge moves to cheaper or more spacious areas. However, with people going back into the office and new jobs not offering work-from-home setups as much, individuals are once again tethered to their current locations by their jobs.

Additionally, these moving rates have slowed down since those who moved in the past years have settled into the homes they bought or rented during those past times.

As we mentioned, people in 2022 have faced a lot more financial and work-related challenges when it comes to moving in the past year, as is reflected in housing trends.

Where Did People Move to in 2022?

Now that we’ve covered what spurred on or discouraged people from moving in 2022, let’s talk about where (or from where) they have moved.

Over the course of 2022, certain states have seen larger numbers of new residents than others, whereas some, in particular, have seen large numbers of people exit. This past year, the states who have seen the largest influx of residents were Arizona in the top spot, followed by South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

There are of course varied reasons why people might gravitate toward these states, but stand-out reasons include lower taxes than the national average, more affordable housing prices and more ideal housing situations, and mild or warmer weather.

What Cities Did People Move to in 2022?

In addition to the most popular states to move to in 2022, there was also a variety of cities included in the Allied Magnet State Report that saw an increase in residents over the past 12 months. Though not all of them correlate to the most popular states, there are some similarities in results.

The most popular cities to move to in 2022 included Tucson, AZ, followed by Sarasota, FL, Charlotte, NC, Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN. Though, like the most popular states to move to, there are similar reasons why people might move to these areas, the most cited reasons included affordable housing options, mild or warmer weather, low tax rates, and friendly or hospitable locals.

What States Did People Move Out of in 2022?

Though, just as many people moved into most states as others this past year, many people exited some states in particular over the last 12 months. The following are the states that saw the highest rates of people moving out of them instead of coming in:

• Illinois
• California
• New Jersey
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania

Like the characteristics of the states that have seen an influx of residents, there are many reasons why people might be interested in moving out of the aforementioned states, including high costs of living and colder climates.

What Cities Did People Leave in 2022?

Alongside the states that saw the most people leave them in 2022, the following cities saw large rates of people moving out of them in 2022:

• New York, NY
• Anaheim, CA
• San Diego, CA
• Chicago, IL
• Riverside, CA

Like the states that have seen large amounts of people leaving them, these cities are often associated with high costs of living, expensive housing prices, and high taxes.

Reasons People Moved in 2022

Though work and family were cited as the most common reason for people to move in 2022, there are obviously a lot of moving parts to consider when planning any move, especially long-distance moving.

As we cited prior, a lot of the states that saw the largest number of new residents mostly share low housing prices and affordable costs of living, which would in turn allow individuals and families to have a higher quality of life than in their previous areas. When compared to extremely high housing costs in places like New York City and in California, it’s indicating that people are increasingly moving for financial reasons alongside work and family.

When taking into account 2022’s moving and housing trends, data suggests that moving will continue to slow in 2023 as people stay in their homes due to rising mortgage rates and financial security. However, if you’re looking to move to a new area this year, Morse Moving & Storage has your back. See what our expert, affordable moving services can do for your relocation this year!