Even with the pandemic looming over the world, many Americans decided to move, whether that’s because of income and employment change, eviction, or in pursuit of a safer place to live. If you are planning to do the same, before hiring professional assistance, check out the moving statistics for 2021 and gain some insight into the whole process.
Numbers don't lie, large number of people move each year.
Who Moves Each Year According to Relocation Statistics?
According to the US Census Bureau, roughly 10% of all Americans move each year. The data also states that the average mover is somewhere between 18 and 34 years old, and they are usually relocating with kids. It also shows that, as people get older, their tendencies to relocate go down. Also, renters tend to move more often than people who own a home.
If you are wondering what percentage of all moves are individual and what are corporate, military, and government ones, check out the chart below.
Most relocations during the year are individual.
How Do People Move?
Informing friends that you are relocating or gently telling the parents that you are moving is just the beginning of the process. After that, it is time to decide if you should use a professional long-distance moving company to assist you or if you should DIY the whole thing? If you can’t make up your mind, take a look at how others decided to relocate.
Some people hire cross country movers, while others prefer to DIY the move.
What Are the Sizes of Households People Move Most?
Household size shouldn’t stop you from relocating. It will play a role in figuring out how much packing materials you need, and it can impact the price of hiring long-distance movers. No matter if you are relocating a studio apartment or a five-bedroom house, you are not alone in your struggles. Check out the sizes of properties Americans move the most:
- Roughly 9.5% of all households are studio flats
- Approximately 29% of all moves are one-bedroom residences
- Two-bedroom homes with 21% come in second
- Three-bedroom residences make 20% of moves
- Four or more bedroom homes make roughly 8% of all relocations.
What Are the Most Commonly Moved Items?
When you start creating a photo inventory for insurance reasons, you might notice many things you don’t need or use anymore. Don’t try to bring everything with you. It is a relocation mistake that can cost you a lot of money, especially if you hire cross country movers to assist you.
Play the relocation smart! Before booking cross country moving services, take a closer look at your belongings and make an inventory list. This way, you’ll know which unwanted items to donate, what to sell, and what to throw away. Donating furniture and other items will greatly reduce the relocation costs. Also, if you have some more valuable objects, consider using professional packing services.
Furthermore, if you want to move a shed or even ship a car, you can. Americans move a wide range of different items each year. If you are curious what relocation essentials others ship, check out the data from American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA):
- 73% of people ship household objects
- 20% move electronics such as servers, computers, and fax machines
- 6% move art-related objects
What Time of the Year Do People Move the Most?
Most relocation industry statistics will vary depending on global economic and social trends. However, there are some that are resilient to change. One of those is the most popular time of the year when people relocate. US News & World Report states that relocation during summer is the most popular and that half of all moves happen between May and the beginning of September.
If you are hiring a cross country moving company to help you relocate, but you still want to find the cheapest way to move out of state, consider some of the less popular months. Check out the chart below and see the percentage of moves happening throughout the year.
Summer is the most popular time of the year for relocation.
When creating your relocation budget, consider a winter move. Even though relocation during holidays and cold weather might seem like a really stressful process, the cross country movers will be less busy, and it will be easier to book them. Also, to pick the best time of year to move, you should be aware of the most popular weekdays, and those are, according to statistics, Friday and Saturday. With all of this in mind, if you are looking for the cheapest time of year to move, book a relocation during winter in the middle of the workweek.
You can save a lot of money if you pick the right date for your relocation
What Are the Top Reasons for Relocation in 2021?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to reasons to move, as long as you are sure of the decision and have a solid plan, everything else is less important. However, when it comes to relocation, you might feel anxiety about moving out, and you might start questioning the decision. If it starts to feel like relocation is more trouble than it is worth, check out the top reasons why others decided to relocate, and you might feel better about your move:
- Around 17.5% of Americans wanted a better, bigger, or new home
- 12% wanted to establish their own household
- Almost 11% of people got jobs that require relocation or a new employment
- 10.5% of people moved because of different family-related reasons
- Approximately 5% moved for a relationship or because of the change in marital status
- Roughly 3% of people wanted to live in a better and safer neighborhood.
Why People Are Moving During COVID-19
Relocation during a coronavirus global pandemic is not an impossible task, however, it requires additional caution. That being said, more than 15.9 million Americans relocated during the pandemic, according to data from the USPS. A study also showed that the main reasons why people decided to change their address during the coronavirus pandemic are:
- Fear of getting COVID-19
- Wanting to be closer to family members
- Closing of college campuses
- Financial reasons that include job loss.
Fear of getting Covid-19 was the main reason for the move last year.
What Are the Top States People Are Moving To?
Figuring out where should you move is probably one of the first things on your mind when deciding you need a fresh start. Finding the right place to put down some roots will take time and a lot of research. Depending on your needs and desires, there will be plenty of places you can settle in. However, US moving statistics show that some states are more popular than others. That’s why, if you are not sure what place would be best for you, check out what are the most popular states according to data from AMSA:
- North and South Carolina
- Arizona
- Idaho State
- Tennessee
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Alabama
- Vermont State
- Montana
All of these states have something to offer to newcomers. No matter if you want to move to a big city or if you are dreaming about living in the suburbs, there will be a place to call home. While some states are gaining residents, there are some that are rapidly losing population. According to the Census Bureau, those are:
- New York State
- State of Indiana
- Connecticut
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Louisiana
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- State of Illinois
- New Jersey
Some states are gaining population while others are rapidly loosing it.
What Are the Most Popular Cities to Move to in 2021?
If knowing the most popular states to live in doesn’t narrow down your search, then maybe you should focus on the most popular cities in the US. Data from USPS and Census Bureau shows that some cities saw an increase in inbound relocation. Some of those are:
- Relocating to Austin, Texas can be a great idea
- If your heart is set on Texas, you can also move to Dallas
- You can be one of those that relocated to Denver in pursuit of happiness
- Relocating to Miami is losing its appeal, but places like Tallahassee, Tampa, and Orlando are steadily gaining residents
- If you want to settle in Tennessee, consider Nashville and Knoxville
- Spokane Washington is also very attractive to newcomers
- Finally, if you’re going to settle in Nevada, consider Las Vegas or Reno.
What Are the Moving Trends When It Comes to International Relocation?
International relocation is also an option to think about. After all, around ten million Americans are living outside of the US, according to the State Department. Almost 40% of them are either in Canada or in Mexico. Luxembourg and Qatar have recorded the greatest gain of American citizens in the last few years. Furthermore, 40% of Americans chose to retire abroad, while roughly 39% relocated for love.
Miami is just one of the cities that's gaining popularity
How Much Does a Relocation Cost?
The price of relocation depends on many factors, such as the amount of stuff, distance, and whether you are DIYing the move or hiring professionals to assist you. If you opt for handling everything on your own, you’ll be faced with the huge responsibility of organizing everything. Obtaining packing materials will be the first cost, and it will depend on the number of objects you are bringing to a new location. Next, there is the price of renting the truck, buying gas, and many different smaller costs along the way.
If this seems like more trouble than it is worth, hiring a cross country moving company is the solution. However, before you actually hire professionals, research and call a few companies. This way, you’ll avoid becoming a victim of a relocation scam. While researching, you’ll learn how much movers cost for a one-bedroom apartment, as well as any other household size you are interested in.
Since the prices depend on many factors, it is almost impossible to say what the average prices of relocation are. However, when you do the research, it will be easy to tell which company will keep your things safe but, at the same time, won’t completely drain your bank account.
There is no way to tell precisely how much the relocation will cost.
What Kind of Moving Industry Trends You Should Keep an Eye on in the Future?
The United States has a population of more than 328 million people spanning over roughly 3.8 million square miles, meaning that no relocation market in the world comes close to it. There are many relocation companies offering a wide array of long-distance moving services, which results in steady market growth.
Moving industry statistics from the last few years show a rise in revenue and the number of relocation companies. Furthermore, the industry shows a growth in the number of employees. Even with the pandemic of COVID-19, the predictions say that the relocation industry will only continue to grow in the years to come.
