Fall 2024 Moving Trends Report: Where are Americans moving right now?

Ryan Carrigan

Last Updated: Dec 4, 2024
9 min read

(Update: October 14, 2024)

Fall 2024 Moving Trends:

South Carolina remains the most popular state to move to, and North Carolina earns the highest net searches for moves into the state from other states.
New frontiers: States with lower population density and far from coastal environmental risks, are seeing a continuing increase in interest from movers, especially Wyoming and Idaho.
Mid-sized cities with strong job markets and high quality of life, such as Charlotte, NC (1.43), Tampa, FL (1.41), and Raleigh, NC (1.41) see high volumes of search interest from movers.
Retirement cities naturally continue to draw in far more moves in than out (over 10,000 turn 65 every day )— #1 The Villages, FL (4.25), #2 Ocala, FL (2.58), and #3 Myrtle Beach, SC (2.55).

In 2024, the cumulative impact of inflation has Americans staying in their homes longer, possibly downsizing, while others who choose to move are most often flocking to areas with some of the nation’s more affordable homes.

Retirement, remote work, politics, and inflation are all contributing to the moves we’re seeing (and not seeing) this year. Movers continue to seek out access to nature and affordability, with an increasing interest in moves into mid-sized cities and low-density states that offer thriving job markets and long-term stability.

We examined 210,000 searches made in 2024 (Jan 1 to Oct 8) using moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator to uncover the moving trends shaping this year so far. Here’s what we found.

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I. Nationwide, where are moves headed in 2024?

Nationwide, which states are attracting interest from prospective movers at the highest rates in 2024?

We analyzed moveBuddha search data and compared the rate of searches for moves into a state vs out of a state to uncover 2024’s most popular states to move to.

Most popular state of 2024 is still South Carolina

With a 2.1 in-to-out ratio, according to moveBuddha data, South Carolina is the state that continues to show the highest proportion of searches for moves into the state vs out. For the fifth year in a row, South Carolina has here a consistent rate of more than double the interest for moves in than out.

Click the year “button” below to see the year-to-year change in moving trends:

And it’s not just South Carolina. Neighboring states North Carolina (1.73) and Tennessee (1.6) also consistently rake in significantly more searches for moves in vs out.

Here are the most popular states that people are moving to in 2024:

Rank	State	In-to-out Move Ratio
1	South Carolina	2.10
2	North Carolina	1.73
3	Wyoming	1.66
4	Arkansas	1.63
5	Maine	1.60
6	Tennessee	1.60
7	Idaho	1.55
8	West Virginia	1.55
9	South Dakota	1.39
10	Oklahoma	1.35

The big shift: Low population density states far from the coast are earning increasing interest.

Wyoming (1.66) and Idaho (1.55) are newcomers to the top 10 for the in-to-out ratio in 2024. Both states have seen dramatic increases in move-in interest since 2023; they are up 37.1% and 25.4%, respectively.

However, this surge in interest can’t be entirely attributed to their mountainous, rural terrains, as states with similar profiles, like Montana (1.33, -52.6%), Colorado (1.05, -28.1%), and Vermont (0.93, -27.3%), are seeing major drops in interest. Montana and Colorado were post-pandemic darlings and saw home values rise quickly while Vermont may be losing retirees to more affordable states.

Of course, The Lone Star (1.21) and Sunshine State (1.24) are still popular among movers, coming #18 and #15, respectively, when looking at the ratio of moves in-to-out.

It’s not exactly that the top move-to states are losing their popularity.

States like Texas and Florida continue to see major growth. But, the rising cost of living in yesterday’s top move-to cities like Austin and Miami (recently found a top move-out metro) has slowed down the inflow of new residents and sent some packing.

The trend of moving south has also spotlighted less-populated states like Alabama (1.28, +18%) and Arkansas (1.63, +14.7%), which saw a significant rise in their move-in rates from 2023 to mid-2024.

With a solid in-to-out ratio of 1.6, coming in at #5 in the rankings is Maine. Like those outdoorsy and popular-to-move-to-Southern states, Maine is a great place for outdoor recreation. It’s also one of the states with the most retirees. Two important factors likely influencing its 11.6% rise in search interest since last year.

Overall, areas with a lower cost of living, a steady climate, and better access to outdoor activities continue to see the most growth. More expensive areas will continue to see people leave as the cost of living becomes an even greater challenge.

The states with the highest net volume of searches for moves in: North Carolina #1

When it comes to the pure volume of searches, the most populous states always top the list: California, Florida, and, of course, Texas. But volume doesn’t tell the whole story.

What is also interesting to look at is the net volume, the number of searches for moves in minus the number of searches for moves out.

Here are the 5 states with the highest net volume of searches for moves in:

Early 2024 saw Texas leading the way, but the latest data shows that North Carolina has snagged the top spot. The state is earning a higher net volume of searches for moves in than any other state in the nation.

Next in line are Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee. While Florida and Texas’s size aids in their ability to attract high volumes of moves, it’s especially noteworthy that states like SC and TN are right behind them. Both of these state’s rapid growth rate along with attracting some of the highest volumes of interest mean they are on track to make big population gains in 2024.

II. Getting away from the Crowd: 2024’s least popular states

For outbound moves, densely populated urban states are the least popular destinations, with many more people looking to leave than relocate there. Four of the top five least popular states ranked among the 10 most densely populated U.S. states. These figures have remained consistent for several years.

Least popular states of 2024

Rank	State	In-to-out Move Ratio
1	California	0.47
2	Rhode Island	0.63
3	New Jersey	0.64
4	Connecticut	0.71
5	Illinois	0.79
6	Maryland	0.80
7	Massachusetts	0.80
8	North Dakota	0.82
9	Nebraska	0.83
10	Louisiana	0.90

The story hasn’t changed inCalifornia (0.47) and New Jersey (0.64). These two states have ranked among the top 3 exit states since 2020. While Rhode Island (0.63), Connecticut (0.71), and Maryland (0.8), which have all seen consistent outflow over the past few years, are now find themselves among the bottom-ranked states.

These states, in addition to being densely populated, face affordability challenges in an America struggling with inflation. New Jersey residents pay the country’s highest property taxes, deal with exorbitant real estate and rent prices, and increasingly see corporate headquarters leave the state, taking jobs with them. Nearby Connecticut is facing the same challenge and also losing residents.

Who is missing from the list? 2020’s #1 exit state, New York, has dropped out of the bottom-10-list as of 2023 and into 39th place overall as of October 2024.

III. Which cities are especially popular to move to in 2024?

We know which states dominate U.S. migration this 2024 (so far), but which cities are leading the pack?

As you might expect, it wasn’t highly populated urban hubs that drew the largest proportions of new residents. Instead, small and mid-sized cities with plenty of affordable housing and outdoor recreation emerged as big winners.

Top cities to move to in 2024

Here are the top cities people are moving to in 2024:

Rank	City, State	In-to-out Move Ratio
1	The Villages, FL	4.25
2	Ocala, FL	2.58	↓
3	Myrtle Beach, SC	2.55	↑
4	Asheville, NC	2.05	↓
5	Greenville, SC	2.01	↓
6	Cary, NC	2.00	↓
7	Conroe, TX	1.94	↑
8	St. Augustine, FL	1.86
9	Wilmington, NC	1.81
10	Charlottesville, VA	1.70

The appearance of 3 Florida cities in the top 10 shouldn’t be surprising, especially not #1 The Villages which earned the top spot in 2023. Located in Central Florida, The Villages is one of the fastest-growing metros, and has been ranked the #1 best retirement town for America's middle class.

Other hot retirement cities also feature, #2 Ocala, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC takes the #3 spot and, nearby, #9 Wilmington, NC does too. Wilmington’s large historic district, vibrant waterfront, and proximity to the “salt life” are a few reasons it's one of America’s most popular cities. The popularity of Myrtle Beach is huge, with the metropolitan area ranking as the #1 metro to move to in 2024 net in-moves per capita.

#5 Greenville, SC, is another city seeing a surge in popularity. The strong job market is a big reason why. Opportunities abound in the city in the healthcare, tech, and manufacturing industries, with companies like BMW and GE employing thousands of residents in the area.

Exit cities of 2024

Rank	City, State	In-to-out Move Ratio
1	Riverside, CA	0.49
2	Pompano Beach, FL	0.55
3	Littleton, CO	0.55
4	Oakland, CA	0.56
5	Memphis, TN	0.66
6	Baton Rouge, LA	0.58
7	Oceanside, CA	0.58
8	Santa Clarita, CA	0.59
9	Los Angeles, CA	0.62
10	Herndon, VA	0.62

California’s struggles to retain residents continue in 2024, with five Golden State cities seeing large numbers of residents looking to leave. Riverside (0.49), Oakland (0.56), Oceanside (0.58), Santa Clarita (0.59), and Los Angeles (0.62) all see about half as many searches for moves in as out.

Surveys show that many Californians love living in California and applaud the state for its diversity. The problem is the cost of living has become exorbitantly high. The Golden State has had three consecutive years of population declines, according to U.S. Census data. The reasons for leaving different cities may differ slightly, but it likely boils down to one main thing: cost of living.

While Tennessee and Florida are winning big, their cities like Memphis, TN, and Pompano Beach, FL, are not. Both are seeing large numbers of searches for moves exiting their cities.

Urban trends: Which urban areas are the most popular to move to in 2024, so far?

Looking purely at cities with the highest search volumes (a minimum of 500 searches for moves both in and out), we can see which of the nation's largest cities are most or least popular to move to.

Big cities with the highest in-to-out ratio:

Rank	City, State	In-to-Out Move Ratio
1	Charlotte, NC	1.43
2	Raleigh, NC	1.41
3	Tampa, FL	1.41
4	Orlando, FL	1.35
5	New York, NY	1.35
6	Nashville, TN	1.31
7	Colorado Springs, CO	1.21
8	Dallas, TX	1.18
9	Salt Lake City, UT	1.12
10	Jacksonville, FL	1.12

The most popular urban area to move to in 2024, so far?

Charlotte, North Carolina, with 143 moves in for every 100 out, takes the top spot.

Surprisingly, the data shows that New York continues its comeback trajectory. Other data backs up this trend. NYC lost fewer people in 2022-2023 than in 2021-2022, reversing a trend that started in the pandemic.

Number one in 2022 and ranked #2 in 2023, Tampa (1.41), is still at the top of the list of big cities to move to in 2024, with Orlando (1.35) right behind. Despite interest in these cities from a high in 2022 and 2023, they are still among the nation's top move-to destinations.

Meanwhile, Sunbelt and Mountain West cities like Nashville (1.31), Colorado Springs (1.21), Dallas (1.18), Salt Lake City (1.12), and Jacksonville (1.12) continue the positive momentum.

Big cities with the lowest in-to-out ratio:

Rank	City, State	In-to-out Move Ratio
1	Los Angeles, CA	0.62
2	San Jose, CA	0.64
3	San Diego, CA	0.67
4	Baltimore, MD	0.80
5	Arlington, VA	0.85

It's no surprise that California cities dominate this list with Los Angeles (0.62), San Jose (0.64) and San Diego (0.67) seeing the most residents looking to head out vs. move in.

Outmigration from the top exit cities has decreased compared to recent years. Previously, cities had in-to-out ratios as low as 0.32, indicating only 32 inbound moves for every 100 outbound. This year, the improved ratios suggest a slowdown in outmigration and a growing influx into these cities.

2024's Trending Moving Destinations: New frontiers, retirement havens, and thriving mid-sized cities

The Sunbelt and Mountain West regions continue to dominate relocation trends, with states like North Carolina, Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee earning the most net inbound searches. Meanwhile, Wyoming and Idaho are becoming new frontiers for those looking for low population density and protection from coastal risks.

Baby Boomers continue to head to top retirement destinations, often in the South, like The Villages, but they may even be considering coastal Maine. While larger mid-sized cities with job opportunities and high quality of life are drawing movers, places like Charlotte, Tampa, and Raleigh.

>California’s notable struggles to retain residents remain a theme in 2024. Despite loving the California dream, residents there can no longer afford it. Cities like Los Angeles, Oakland, and Riverside see more people moving out than in, driven by the state's high cost of living and housing challenges.

People usually move to be close to family or for work opportunities, but another reason is for money and lifestyle. Looking at the most popular states and cities in 2024, it’s evident movers are choosing vibrant mid-size cities that offer cultural amenities and a spectrum of lifestyles. It doesn’t hurt that the cost of living is better, too.

Methodology & Sources

We use moveBuddha proprietary data collected from 2020 through October 8, 2024, to analyze move trends. The data comes directly from the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator.

In-to-out ratio: We rely primarily on the in-to-out ratio equation in our analysis to see which cities are earning more residents by moves in than losing them via moves out: [Number of queries for moves in] ÷ [Number of queries for moves out] = [in-to-out ratio].