Reasons for Relocating: Why Do People Move?

Choosing where to live is a deeply personal decision and a daunting task. But why do people move? What is the most likely reason for a person to uproot their life and relocate? There is quite a bit of work that goes into moving short or long distances, so why do people move from one place to another? Here’s what our survey results found.

Key Takeaways

• Most Americans stay put longer than expected, with over half living in their current city for more than ten years.

• Family ties and hometown roots are the biggest reasons people choose where they live, far outweighing job-related moves.

• While people are emotionally attached to where they live, many say they would relocate to a new city for the right job or a dream location.

• Young adults expect to settle down in their mid to late-20s, and a significant portion believe they won't put down roots until even later in life.

• The cost of living, career opportunities, and relationships often influence whether a move feels worth emotional and financial cost.

Making Moves Across the United States

Out of the hundreds we surveyed across the United States, we found that over 50% of people have lived in their current location for over ten years. The next most common timeframe was 3-5 years, with only 17% of respondents selecting that option. The most common reason people chose to live in their current city was family or the fact that they had grown up there. Only 14% of people say they moved to where they lived for a job.

However, despite personal connections linking people to their homes so often, the most common reasons people say they would move would be either for a new job or the opportunity to move to their dream location. While people tend to stay in their comfort zones, they will relocate if a better option arises.

Making Moves to Settle Down: At What Age Do People Settle?

Many people have a vision that, at some age, they will settle in a single location and put down roots. Most people believe this will happen between the ages of 24-26, and the next largest group of people (17%) don’t think they will settle down until they're over 36.

How attached are people to their current city?

43% of people say that they are only somewhat attached to their current city, but the next largest group of respondents say that they are very attached to where they live. This seems to directly correlate with the idea of deciding whether or not to settle down—some love where they are now, while others want to wait before putting down roots.

Hometown Love: Why Do People Move Back Home?

As kids, most people want to live anywhere but their hometown, but it seems like this attitude changes as life goes on. 40% of people say they are open to the idea of living in their hometown, and 28% say that they live there now. Only 26% of people overall are entirely opposed to the idea of moving back to their hometown.

Who is most likely to move home?

Men and women had very similar opinions about moving back to their hometowns. The generations, however, were split very decisively in comparison.

• Baby Boomers: most likely to say they would never return to their hometown

• Gen X: least likely to currently live in their hometown, but most likely of the generations to say they might move to their hometown at some point

• Millennials: most likely to currently live in their hometown and the least likely to say that they would never move back to their hometown

There were quite a few differences between regional preferences. The Northeast and West were very likely to say that they might move back to their hometown at some point. Meanwhile, people in the South were most likely to currently live in their hometown. People in the Midwest were most likely to say they would never return to their hometown.

Making Moves to Make More Money

For the vast majority of people, moving to a city without a job is a major dealbreaker. Men and women agree on this front, as do Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and regions across the U.S.

Relocating Without a Raise

On the other hand, many people are willing to move for a job that doesn’t give a raise or promotion. In fact, out of every demographic we surveyed (e.g., Gender, Region, and Generation), Baby Boomers were the only group more likely to say they would not consider relocating for a job without a promotion or raise. Over a third of people (36%) would move for less than a 20% raise. One in four people say they would move for a 20% raise, and 18% of people say they would need at least a 50% raise to move from their current location.

Moving for a Job, by Generation

However, moving for a job was still a popular reason to move. Overall, Baby Boomers were the least likely to relocate for a job, most likely because they are approaching or currently at retirement age. Gen X is the most demanding overall. Most respondents in that generation say they would require a 20% to 50% raise to move. Millennials were the least demanding, as the most likely generation to say that they would move for a 5% to 15% raise.

Making Moves for a Significant Other

Overall, people take a fairly practical stance on relocating for love. In every demographic breakdown, the most common timeframe they want to date before moving is 1-2 years. Over 30% of people in every category chose that as the milestone they would need to hit before considering moving to the same city as someone they are dating.

According to our results, the cost of living plays a significant role in the decision to move in with a significant other. In fact, 3 out of 4 people say they are more likely to move in with a significant other sooner if they could split a high cost of living.

Romantic Relocation Decisions

When deciding who should move closer, the most significant factor tends to be which city both parties like best. Coming in just behind were both employment-based factors: highest salary or most opportunity for growth. Almost 60% of people find a long-distance relationship more stressful than relocating to live with their partner.

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Reasons for Moving FAQs

What age group moves the most?

20-somethings are a mobile age group, and those we surveyed think they are the most likely to move to where they intend to settle down between the ages of 24-26. And according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, at least as of 2016, the age group that moved the most was 25-29.

How far does the average American move?

Based on data from more than 100,000 moves booked on HireAHelper.com, in 2022, the average American moved about 73 miles.

What country do most Americans move to?

According to a 2022 study by HireAHelper.com, Mexico is the country most Americans move to, followed by the U.K., Canada, and Australia.

What is a good reason for moving?

There’s no right or wrong reason to move! One person’s reasons for moving may not make sense to another person because it’s a highly personal decision. But based on our survey, the top reasons for moving are:

• To be closer to loved ones

• To pursue a job opportunity

• To live in a dream city

What are some important moving cost considerations?

There are many costs to consider before moving, like the cost of movers, downpayments or renter deposits, and the difference in cost of living. It's important to create a moving budget so you can plan your finances.

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