Local Moves Keep Declining

Census figures show steep decline after rate was about 1 in 5 for decades
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 2, 2024 3:25 PM CDT
Americans Are Staying Put, Moving Data Show
   (Getty/Aneese)

Americans apparently have settled in for the long haul. An analysis of Census Bureau data show that the share of people moving to a new home was 8.7% in 2022, the Hill reports, after holding around 20% from the late 1940s through the 1980s. William Frey, senior demographer at the Brookings Institution, told Axios a series of trends seems to be responsible for the long-term change, including:

  • The US population is aging. Older people, who could have their mortgage paid off, are less likely to move.
  • Younger people are living with their parents longer and marrying and having children later.

  • Single-earner households are less common than they were, and it's tougher to find two or more jobs in a new place.
  • Remote work is more common, so many workers don't need to move for a new job.
  • High housing prices make moving up more difficult.
Frey said long-distance moves ticked up a bit, to about 1.5%, after falling for four years, while moves in the same county dropped to less than 5% for 2021-22. The Brookings research can be found here. (More moving stories.)

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