Domestic Migration Sinks To A New Low; Trapped In Your House?

It’s not just a post-Covid thing.

The percentage of people moving each year has plunged from 15.40 percent to 11.76 percent between 2010 and 2024 according to Census Department Data.

The percentage of movers has declined every year except for 2013 which was flat.

This is a secular trend not just a recent affordability issue.

Although the percentage of those moving has dropped dramatically, the percentage of those moving out of state has been stable.

The 2010-2024 range is 2.13 percent to 2.50 percent. However, the low was 2.13 percent in 2024.

Gen Z (Zoomers) the Most Mobile Generation

Those age 18-29 are the most likely to move. The peak moving years are age 20-24.

This is intuitively obvious as high school graduates move to college then move again when they graduate. If they do not get a job right away they may move back home, then many move when they get a job or switch jobs.

By the time people hit 45 the odds of moving within a calendar year plunges to 8.5 percent or so.

Which States Are Still Gaining Residents?

Based off the same data, the Storage Cafe addresses the question Which States Are Winners and Losers?

Key Takeaways

Interstate migration slowed sharply in 2024 to 2.1% of the U.S. population, compared to 2.3% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2022.
Texas and Florida remain the top states for net domestic migration, but both are seeing markedly slower population gains compared to recent years.
Gen Z has overtaken Millennials as the most mobile generation, with 2.2 million Gen Zers relocating across state lines in 2024 versus 1.98 million Millennials.
Affordable Midwestern states are gaining ground: Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin are emerging as increasingly attractive migration destinations.
Vermont leads on a per-capita basis, adding more than 20 newcomers per 1,000 residents — the highest relative inflow in the country.
New Hampshire and Maine convert the highest share of new residents into homeowners, with 57% and 56%, respectively, purchasing a home within their first year.

What Migration Says About America’s Housing Market

Our analysis of the latest Census data shows that the Sun Belt is no longer unstoppable. Texas and Florida are still gaining residents, but at roughly half last year’s pace. Meanwhile, a comeback is taking shape in parts of the Midwest — and Gen Z has quietly become the most mobile generation in America.
The pull factors that once drew households across state lines — cheaper housing, lower taxes and more space — have weakened. Many of the states that attracted waves of incoming migration in recent years, particularly the Sunbelt states, have seen home prices climb sharply, eroding their affordability advantage.
At the same time, elevated mortgage rates are locking many homeowners in place. Millions secured ultra-low rates several years ago and are now reluctant to trade them for loans that would dramatically raise their monthly payments. For more and more would-be movers, the math simply doesn’t add up anymore.
Work is also reshaping mobility patterns. As more employers scale back fully remote arrangements, relocating to a lower-cost state can carry new professional risks. Without certainty about long-term flexibility, households are hesitating — and career mobility, once the dominant engine of interstate migration, has softened considerably over the past decade. According to United Van Lines’ latest movers study, “new job or company transfer” accounted for 25.92% of moves in 2025, down from 29.10% in 2023 and dramatically below the 2018 peak of 47.60%.
Instead, migration today is increasingly anchored in personal relationships. Strengthening family ties has become the most common reason for interstate moving in both 2024 and 2025. In 2025, 29.13% of movers relocated to be closer to family, up from 27.10% in 2023. Retirement remains another steady driver at 13.86%, while lifestyle changes account for 9.54% of moves. Notably, “improved cost of living” — a frequent justification during the pandemic migration wave — represents just 3.22% of moves in 2025, underscoring how affordability-driven relocations have lost momentum.
Essentially, we’re seeing a more cautious, more constrained America. Moving across state lines is no longer an obvious path to saving money. Instead, relocation decisions are increasingly shaped by pragmatic and lifestyle-oriented considerations — strengthening family ties, planning retirement, or seeking stability amid economic uncertainty and climate pressures.

Gen Z Leads Interstate Migration

For the first time on record, Gen Z is America’s most mobile generation, accounting for nearly one in three interstate moves. In 2024, 2.2 million young adults moved to a different state overtaking Millennials after years of millennial dominance and a near tie between the two generations in 2023.
Several factors help explain Gen Z’s rise to the top. Many in this generation are now in their early-to-mid 20s, prime years for mobility driven by education, early career moves and lifestyle exploration. With fewer family obligations and lower homeownership rates, Gen Zers often have greater flexibility to relocate for job opportunities, more affordable cities or simply a change of scenery. The normalization of remote and hybrid work has also expanded their geographic options right at the start of their careers.
That flexibility shows up clearly in where they are choosing to go. The top destinations for net Gen Z migration are South Carolina, Missouri and the District of Columbia, showing that Gen Zers are driven both by affordability and ambition. South Carolina and Missouri offer lower housing costs and growing regional job markets, giving young adults room to establish themselves financially. At the same time, the District of Columbia continues to attract Gen Z movers drawn to policy, media and professional services careers that benefit from proximity and networking.
Meanwhile, millennials, now deeper into their 30s and 40s, are increasingly entering more settled life stages. Marriage, parenthood and homeownership tend to anchor households, making long-distance moves less frequent. As a result, millennials slipped to second place in 2024, representing 28% of interstate movers, or about 2 million people.
The top destinations for net millennial migration are Texas, Maryland and North Carolina, states that combine economic viability with long-term housing opportunities. Texas and North Carolina offer large, diversified metro areas with steady job creation and relatively attainable suburban homeownership. Maryland, while more expensive, provides access to stable, high-paying employment tied to federal and professional services sectors. For millennials, interstate migration is increasingly about locking in the next phase of life rather than experimenting with it.

US Migration Magnets

Southern and Mountain West states dominate, but new relocation hotspots are emerging.
Even as interstate moving slows nationwide, some states are much above the rest in terms of attracting and retaining residents. And once again, the strongest performers are concentrated in the South and the Mountain West, regions that have spent years at the forefront of domestic migration.
A combination of relatively affordable housing, lower overall living costs, competitive tax structures and business-friendly environments has consistently positioned these states as magnets for both individuals and employers. Strong job growth, population momentum and pro-development policies have further reinforced their appeal.
In fact, among the top 10 states for net migration in 2024, only one — Ohio — falls outside the South or Mountain West. Its presence, however, signals an important shift. While Sun Belt and interior Western states still dominate the leaderboard, parts of the Midwest and northern U.S. are beginning to gain ground.
Years of sustained inbound migration to Southern and Mountain West states have inevitably reshaped their affordability advantage. Rapid population growth has pushed up home prices, rents and even moving costs in many once-budget-friendly metros. Infrastructure strain and rising insurance premiums in certain areas have also added to the cost equation.
As a result, some households are broadening their search. The Midwest, in particular, is emerging once again as a viable alternative, offering lower housing prices, stable communities and growing job markets without the same intensity of competition seen in long-time migration hotspots. States across the region, including Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin are increasingly capturing a “second wave” of movers who still seek affordability but are priced out of more established Sun Belt destinations.

Net Migration Map

The high tax states led by California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts lead the way in negative migration, in that order, an by net migration per 1,000 residents as well.

The top net inbound states are Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada. On a net migration per 1,000 residents basis, Vermont leads the way at 20.08 followed by Nevada at 13.3. North Dakota at 9.94, and South Carolina at 9.81.

2025 and 2026 Will Be Much Worse

Job hopping declined dramatically in 2025 with a huge slowdown in employment.

In 2026, employment looks to be flat at best, and perhaps very negative.

Much will depend on inflation, how long the war in Iran lasts, whether there is a recession, and whether the Fed is forced to hike rates.

Affordability issues are everywhere.