Where Are People Moving To? Top Moving Trends for 2022

Since the pandemic hit in 2020 and affected everyone’s lives in some way, shape, or form, we’ve witnessed many changes in the past few years. The economy has taken a hit, and in turn, the United States housing market has changed greatly as well. With remote work becoming a more readily available option for a huge portion of the workforce and people’s needs and priorities shifting, the moving trends for 2022 have taken shape and impacted the market. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, find out more about where people are moving and why.

The places in demand

To understand the reasoning behind why people choose to relocate to new places, we must first take a look at the cities and states that are increasing in population (and the ones that are decreasing in population as well). Data compiled from both the U.S. Census and the United States Postal Service can offer us a comprehensive report of these numbers.

The top five cities with the most population growth in the past year are as follows.

1. Sarasota, FL
2. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
3. Nashville, TN
4. Tampa Bay, FL
5. Ocala, FL

The top five states with the most population growth are below as well.

1. Utah
2. Idaho
3. Texas
4. North Dakota
5. Nevada

On the other hand, the top five areas with the highest number of move-outs can be found below.

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Northern California
3. Chicago, IL
4. Long Island, NY
5. Central New Jersey

These trends have shown that people are seeking suburban living in close proximity to larger cities. Suburban counties have seen a significant influx in residents. And although long-distance moves happen plenty, many people are moving within their current area and staying within close proximity.

Why move?

Although there are many factors for moving that have historically stayed consistent through the years, a lot of the reasons have emerged in relevance due to the pandemic and our current economy. Although there are endless motives for a relocation, recent studies have found a few overarching, common rationales.

1. Remote work options: Remote and hybrid work options have altered the way people work and have largely broadened workers’ job options. Now, instead of being restricted to workplaces only in your geographic area, the working world has completely opened up and become much more accessible. Even as restrictions have lifted, many companies are maintaining their remote work policies or transitioning into a hybrid model, rather than making their employees return to the office full time.People working at companies with these remote and hybrid options no longer need to worry about their commute, broadening their housing options immensely. For people who take jobs without full remote capabilities in a new area, they need to move, but they may be working with a hybrid model which allows their days in office to be decreased. Because of this, they may have more options in terms of their distance from the office. This could potentially explain some suburban living as well, allowing people to live outside of a big city even if their job is based there.:
2. More space: Another factor that can explain people leaving cities and opting for the suburbs is the desire for more space. People have been confined to their houses much more in recent years, working their jobs, attending classes, and much more all within the comfort of their own home. Because of this increased time within their own four walls, people are seeking homes with more space to do what they want and need to do.Buyers and renters alike, now more than ever, are looking for a place that has an extra room for a home office or a home gym. People may want larger rooms for their children to have a dedicated area in their bedrooms for remote learning. Alternatively, people may want extra space outside – a larger yard for kids and pets to run around, or perhaps to have room for a patio and a grill. These factors all lead people out of densely populated areas and into areas where there’s room to spread out.
3. Proximity to loved ones: Through the past few years, the personal connections in people’s lives have been a huge point of emphasis. Family and friends are a crucial part of people’s lives, and people seem to have overwhelmingly grown to appreciate them even more throughout the pandemic. Movers have opted to stay closer to home, rather than moving out to somewhere much further away. People are seeking familiarity and stability through the connections in their lives, and this has certainly shown in moving trends. Plus, because job options have become increasingly remote-friendly as we previously mentioned, people no longer need to go far away from their family homes to find their dream career.
4. The housing market: Although limited housing options had previously made the market much more ideal for sellers, trends show that inventory is on the rise. Despite this, many heavily-populated areas have proven difficult to find housing in for quite awhile, which undoubtedly affects people’s moving choices.

Additionally, prices for both buying and renting have remained undeniably high, and it looks like a steady decrease won’t be happening any time soon. People are forced to seek markets within their price range, and those markets have narrowed down because of the exorbitant costs. Big cities prove difficult to afford in the current market.

Looking to move in 2022?

With these various factors in mind and the knowledge of which areas are on trend, you can make an educated decision on the perfect place for you. No matter where you’re looking to relocate, Sunrise Moving & Storage is the best moving company for you. With expert movers and reliable storage solutions, moving locally or long-distance is made easier through Sunrise.

Get a quote today, and discover just how seamless a relocation can be.