Lots of Americans Were on the Move in 2020

Pandemic concerns, changes in income and employment status, and evictions prompted many Americans to move around in 2020. In its latest survey, the group Move.org reported that approximately 20% of Americans had moved their residences as of September 2020. The group’s report also found that 35% of people that moved during 2020 said buying a house was a deciding factor for their move.

Nearly half of all survey respondents said their move resulted from income loss and the need for affordable housing. And over a third of respondents said their move was related to COVID-19, either from concerns related to health, work, housing, or money.

Other “key” findings in the study showed:

• Of those that moved, 46% of people moved within the same city, 38% moved within the same state, and 14% moved to a different state.
• Florida had the greatest number of people moving into the state and Texas had the second largest influx of new residents.
• California had the greatest number of people leaving the state at a rate of nearly 3-to-1.
• About 61% of people that moved during 2020 were renters.
• Approximately 45% of people that moved in 2020 said upgraded housing was a deciding factor in their decision to move.
• Nearly 1 in 3 (33%) of the people that moved in 2020 were between the ages of 25 and 34.
• The greatest percentage of moves occurred during Fall 2020, with relocation peaking during the month of September.