The 2022 Allied US Migration Report tracks moving and migration patterns throughout the country over the course of the past year. The following are some of the largest relocation trends in the United States in 2022.
US Moving Trends in 2022
Over the past year, Allied has found that fewer people moved on average in 2022 in comparison to 2021, with moving rates falling up to 20%. These falling rates can be attributed to a variety of reasons, including rising rent costs, higher interest rates, higher amounts of inflation, and falling wages.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves working from home permanently, which allowed them to move wherever in the country was more suited to their lifestyles or just more affordable for their budgets. However, many people this year found themselves either already settled from previous moves, unable to move due to going back into their physical office, or financially unable to due to rising inflation and housing prices. These variables are reflected in the current housing trends for this past year.
Where Did People Move in 2022?
Some cities and states found themselves more popular as moving destinations in 2022 than others. The top state moved to this year in the United States was Arizona, which came in as the top state with inbound moves in the country, followed by South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. These states offer low taxes, good weather, and affordable housing prices, so there’s no doubt as to why so many people find them excellent places to relocate to.
As far as individual cities go, the top cities moved to in 2022 was Tucson, AZ, which came in at the number one spot, followed by Sarasota, FL, Charlotte, NC, Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN. Each of these cities is steadily growing and is attractive to prospective movers due to their affordable housing, lower-than-average taxes, and good average weather.
Top Outbound Moving States in 2022
On the other side of the spectrum, several states and cities saw more people than average leaving them than moving in.
The top outbound states that saw people leaving at the highest levels were Illinois, coming in at the number one spot, followed by California, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The top outbound cities were New York, NY, followed by Anaheim, CA, San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL, and Riverside, CA.
There’s no doubt that with rent and housing pricing spikes over the past year, many Americans moved to more affordable and suburban areas to get away from the high prices of city living. Work and family remained the biggest reasons for moves this year, which reflects the need for homes geared more toward large homes coming in at more budget-friendly prices.
Why Did People Move in 2022?
As we mentioned prior, the states that saw the most population growth in 2022 largely saw this due to their affordability and the financial security they provide to residents. The extremely high costs of living in states like California and cities like New York City can prove undoable for those who have seen their weekly wages lowered over the past year.
The inbound boom of residents in Arizona might see a lull in the coming year, as with the demand for living there come increased prices of housing and day-to-day living. Though Arizona’s average wages grew nearly 6% in 2022, its cost of living nearly rivals that of California.
The suburbs have proven to be more popular for new residents in various states than ever, as housing prices and the cost of living makes this lifestyle much more attractive to many people. With so many still permanently working from home, not having to stay subject to the housing prices involved in living in large cities only adds to this. Before the pandemic, many Americans tended to only buy homes around 15 miles away from their old ones but now tend to move over much larger distances.
With these trends over the last year, projections indicate similar moving patterns over the course of 2023, but possibly with different cities and states taking the top spots in the coming months as housing and cost of living prices rise. Need the best Chicago moving company for your own relocation this year? See what Reebie Storage & Moving Co. can do for you and your family today.