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2021 Study: Where Americans Moved To Retire in 2021

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Key Findings

  • Only 226,000 Americans moved to retire in 2021, the lowest number in seven years
  • Nearly half (47%) of Americans who moved after retiring this year went to a different state, compared to just 16% of all people moving
  • Early retirees (i.e., those younger than 65) were even more likely to leave their state (64%)
  • Tennessee (13%)—the state with one of the lowest tax burdens in the U.S.—is 2021’s top destination state for Americans retiring outside their home state
  • About 7% of Americans relocating for retirement in 2021 went to Pittsburgh, PA, more than any other city
  • Early retirees accounted for 40% of those moving for retirement in 2021
  • Retirees of color make up just 12% of those moving for retirement, as 88% of retirement movers are white Americans

 

According to recent estimates, COVID forced up to 3 million Americans to retire earlier than planned. This development pushed the percentage of people aged 55 and over who are retired to 50%, which is 2% higher than it was before the pandemic.

All things being equal, this means we’d expect to see a spike in the number of people who moved for retirement, but that didn’t happen. Quite to the contrary, the number of retirees who moved in 2021 dropped to 226,000—roughly 43% fewer than in the year previous. It’s also the lowest number of American retirees in the last five years!

More Retired, but Fewer Moved: The Decline in Retirement Moves in 2021

retirement moves

The trend for retirees this year is clear. But what are the causes? There could be a few plausible reasons for this discrepancy.

Why are fewer retirees moving?

1) COVID: It may seem like the pandemic is coming to an end, but it’s worth remembering that older Americans were the cohort hardest hit by the virus, with rates of infection, hospitalization, and death highest for folks over 65. It’s therefore conceivable that many would-be retirees had COVID, had to care for someone who had it or were otherwise affected by it. This may have undermined their willingness and ability to relocate. 

2) Housing market: After a turbulent 2020, to say that the housing market rebounded this year would be a huge understatement. Prices continue to climb at a record pace, especially in the desirable quiet, quaint, low-on-crime, high-on-sunshine neighborhoods retirees tend to seek out. Meaning, despite the fact that most retirees downsize, they may be getting priced out of places where they’d like to retire.

3) Lack of retirement savings: Many Americans lacked retirement savings due to having to spend them to sustain themselves or support their families even before the pandemic. This situation has arguably gotten worse in recent years, with one recent study finding that 14 million Americans stopped contributing to their pension plans.

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Most Stay Put, But Those that Go, Go Far: How American Retirees Moved in 2021

Despite dwindling numbers of retiring Americans deciding to relocate, those that do make that decision tend to travel a lot further than a typical person moving in 2021.

Americans moving for retirement were three times as likely to leave their state than of those moving for work, family, or any other reason (47% vs 16%).

This also constitutes a 10% increase on last year’s figures, where only 38% of people relocating for retirement decided to move out of their home state.

High Affordability, Low Taxes: Tennessee Top State Choice for Retirement Moves

Last year it was Virginia, this year it’s Tennessee; the Volunteer State was chosen by 13% of Americans moving out of state for retirement, the highest percentage of all U.S. states.

 

“Curiously enough, Tennessee was even more popular among early retirees. As many as one in five (20%) Americans under 65 who left their state for retirement moved to Tennessee.”

 

Tennessee is not only home to vibrant Nashville and Memphis, but is also the state with the lowest tax burden in the country, after Alaska. 

Meanwhile, Florida, the staple in any top destinations for retirement list, wasn’t that far off the top spot.11% of retirees who left their home state relocated to the Sunshine State in 2021. Pennsylvania (10%), North Carolina (10%), and South Carolina (9.4%) round off the top five.

Curiously enough, Tennessee was even more popular among early retirees. As many as one in five (20%) Americans under 65 who left their state for retirement moved to Tennessee.

Great Healthcare, Affordable Housing: Pittsburgh, PA Tops Retirement Destinations City List

pittsburgh

Technically speaking, areas outside cities and metropolitan areas were the most preferred destinations for retirees, as 26% of Americans who moved for retirement headed to smaller towns and cities far from urban areas.

The city attracting the highest percentage of retirees is in Pennsylvania, and it’s Pittsburgh. Once ranked as the best place to retire by Bankrate due to its low cost of living, excellent healthcare system, and a significant number of inhabitants being 65 or older, Pittsburgh was the top city destination of choice for 7% of all retirees in the U.S. in 2021

“An overwhelming majority of Americans moving for retirement in 2021 were white (88%); only 12% of those retiring and relocating were people of color.”

 

Three metropolitan areas from Tennessee also made the top 10. Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA was the destination of choice for 3.9% of Americans relocating for retirement. A further 3.5% chose Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro , while 3% opted for Johnson City, TN.

Two Florida metros featured in the top 10 with Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL representing the Sunshine State with roughly 3.5% of retirees moving to these metropolitan areas.

Worth noting that two of the most popular metropolitan areas to relocate for retirement were around Los Angeles and San Francisco in California.

Departing Delaware, Moving Out of Maryland: the States Retirees Were Most Likely to Leave

On the flip side, states which saw the highest percentage of retirees choosing to move out for retirement were Delaware and Maryland, where 22% of people moving to retire decided to leave. In Utah, which was top of our ranking last year had a share of 19% defectors.

Following them, a number of states, including Virginia and New Jersey, had 15% of their retirement moves headed outside the state.

Who Is Moving for Retirement in America: Retirement Moves by Demographic

In a year immediately following the pandemic, which cohorts of senior citizens were most and least likely to relocate for retirement?

Men (53%) are the majority among senior citizens relocating for retirement (47% are listed as women). Married couples accounted for 77% of retirement moves, while only 23% were single (which includes those divorced, widowed, and those never married).

An overwhelming majority of Americans moving for retirement in 2021 were white (88%); only 12% of those retiring and relocating were people of color.

Sources and Methodology
Unless otherwise stated, all the data behind the charts in this study was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and its Annual Social and Economic Supplements for 2021. 
To calculate the most moved-in and most moved-out states and cities, we took the percentage of all retirees in 2021 who moved or left a state or city. “Early retirees” was operationalized as any retiree younger than 65.  

Moving During Delta: How COVID Affected American Moves in 2021 (so Far)

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Key Findings

  • 21% of people who moved from January through July 2021 said they moved due to COVID-19
  • During the first three months of 2021, every third move was due to COVID-19
  • 37% of COVID-related moves were people moving due to going remote
  • One-in-five (22%) moved after selling their home in a favorable real estate market
  • Around 18% moved because they didn’t feel safe where they lived
  • 17% moved because they couldn’t afford their housing and had to relocate
  • For the first time in years, more people moved into New York City (+51%) than left it

 

When we looked at how Americans moved during the pandemic at the end 2020, people reported about one-in-four moves were due to COVID. Moreover, most of those surveyed who said they moved due to COVID were driven by concerns for personal health and safety, financial hardship, and the need to take care of family.

How have things changed in the world since? Well, 2021 has been an ever-shifting landscape for moving so far.

delta covidA rapid rise in vaccinations at the start of the year was followed by a dramatic drop in the number of cases, as people started seeing friends and family socially again and public life began to reopen. And yet in July, despite the 52% majority of Americans being fully vaccinated, cases and hospitalizations were on the rise again, and today, there is even talk of a fourth wave.

Meanwhile, among factors directly related to public health, employers are deciding whether to go fully remote or to ask everyone to go back to the office (or go for something in-between). Elsewhere, the real estate market continues to exceed all expectations as prices climb higher than ever and homes are selling at a record pace.

Okay, so how have these recent events affected the way Americans move? To find out, we analyzed a sample of over 57,000 related moves booked through HireAHelper.com and our partners from January through July of 2021. We also surveyed these customers to understand why Americans said they moved throughout 2021.

Defying Delta: Americans Continued to Move at 2019 Rates Despite Ongoing Pandemic

During this time in 2020, overall moving came to an almost grinding halt. Likely due to a fear of infection, many opted to move by themselves, booking activity was low, and cancellations were through the roof. 

As we found out through the data later, many moves simply ended up being postponed for later in the year when it was safer. Towards the end of 2020, the overall number of yearly moves actually evened out as the busy summer “moving season” shifted towards the end of the year.

In 2021, we have a different story on our hands. As the number of newly discovered COVID cases dropped, the number of moves grew at a slow but steady pace. Then, as national vaccinations began to pick up the pace, so did the moves. By April-May 2021, many more Americans were moving than the year previous.

This trend continued into the summer months, despite the surge of the Delta variant, otherwise known as the latest variant of the coronavirus which became the dominant strain in the U.S. in early July.

Whether due to the proliferation of the vaccines, the unwillingness to postpone moving plans any longer, or just harsh economic realities, Americans seem to be moving much more actively in 2021 so far. 

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Remote Work, Real Estate, Return to Safety: Why Americans Said They Moved in 2021

As noted at the top of the article, 21% of moves made by our customers in 2021 were due to COVID-19, and more specifically the Delta variant.

That’s somewhat down from 25% at the end of last year, but still higher than the 15% of moves forced by the COVID pandemic we saw in early 2020.

Apart from being fewer in number, other things different about this year’s COVID-related moves are the reasons behind them.

In mid-2020, people who moved because of COVID claimed they did so out of financial hardship, to be closer to family, or due to feeling unsafe where they lived. By the end of 2020, the top reasons were similar: feeling unsafe, loss of job or income due to COVID, taking care of family.

 

“Financial hardship and concerns for safety gave way to remote work (37%) and taking advantage of the housing market by selling a home (22%) as the top COVID-related reasons to move in 2021.”

 

This year, however, things changed. Financial hardship and concerns for safety gave way to remote work (37%) and taking advantage of the housing market by selling a home (22%) as the top COVID-related reasons to move in 2021. 

This isn’t to say that concerns for health and safety are completely gone. Almost all COVID-related moves still happen for those very reasons, but the shift is clear. In 2020, pandemic-related moves were about sheltering in place to adapt to the new reality. In 2021, Americans seem to be making the most of the opportunities the pandemic presented despite all the hardship it brought about.

The Change of Reasons: Covid-related Reasons for Moving Throughout the Year

Sure, across seven months, many people moved to work remotely or after selling their homes in the booming real estate market. But that’s not always been the case in 2021. Let’s look at the most common COVID-related reasons for moving in 2021, over time.

Feeling unsafe due to COVID spread held at 10% of all pandemic-affected moves for five months, dipping to as low as 5% in June. But then the Delta variant happened. By July, as many as 15% of all pandemic-related moves were people concerned for their safety from the rapidly spreading infection.

Moving to work remotely is the reason that only became more common as the months went by, accounting for roughly 20% of all COVID-related moves in 2021. Selling a home peaked in May-June time, when this reason contributed to 15% of all COVID-related moves.

One reason that became less and less common as the year 2021 went on is moving due to losing jobs and income to COVID. Last year, as many as 35% of moves forced by the pandemic were down to financial hardship. In July 2021, financial hardship only accounted for 8% of stated reasons for a move.

Back to the Office? New York City Had More People Move in Than Out for the First Time in Years

We’ll leave the traditional review of where people are moving to and from for our annual report, but there was one curious finding that emerged from our analysis of moves in 2021 thus far.

According to the data, reports in the media, and figures from other companies in the moving industry, one trend always shines through; when you look at America’s biggest cities, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, more people typically leave them than move in.

This has been true for years, but now we may have an exception on our hands. 51% more people moved to New York City than left New York City in the first seven months of 2021. 

In fairness, except for NYC, all the other major U.S. cities are showing the same trend they have in recent years—more people are leaving them than moving in. 

Whether this is a sign of an impending “big return to the office”, an indication that people started feeling safer, or a blip in the data remains to be seen. (We’ll round up all the moving trends in our annual report, likely to be published in January 2022.)

Return to Normal? Moving in 2021 Looks More Like It Did Before the Pandemic

Not only are people actively moving again, how and when they’re doing it resembles pre-pandemic patterns more than it does last year’s trends.

Take when people move, for example. In 2020, due to the spread of COVID-19, many people were forced to either cancel or postpone their move. This is why we saw 30% fewer people moving during “peak moving season” of May-July and 30% more in September-October time.

That’s not what 2021 looks like so far. If we look at when people moved this year and compare it to the last two years, we’ll see that the 2021 curve resembles 2019 a lot more than it does 2020. 

Another indication that moving in 2021 looks a lot more like 2019 than 2020 is how big the moves are again.

In 2020, likely due to many moves headed towards temporary, smaller accommodation, the size of an average move stood at 1,595 square feet, down by 282 square feet from 2019. 

But in 2021, the moves are big again—bigger than 2019 in fact. A typical move so far in 2021 was 1,793 square feet.

Based on the data, it looks like despite the surge of the Delta variant (or possibly in tandem with it), Americans moved in larger numbers in 2021 than in 2020 thus far.

As coronavirus continues to mutate and the overall vaccination pace slows, it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen in the coming months. Whether moves will continue unimpeded or we’ll be forced to slow down and shelter-in-place again remains to be seen.

One thing we know for certain is that protecting your health and safety is still critically important when moving. If you are thinking of moving, be sure to check out our guides to moving during the pandemic and when states reopen to make sure your move goes safely, as well as smoothly. 

2021 Mid-year Moving Stats Infographic

covid infographic

Sources and Methodology
HireAHelper’s COVID Moving Study analyzed moving data in the U.S. booked through our online platform in 2021. Year-on-year comparisons of moving activity between 2021, 2020, and 2019 cover the period of January 1st through July 31st 2021.
Unless otherwise stated, all percentages, breakdowns, and summary statistics are derived from the data captured by HireAHelper.com and its partners.
Data on reasons why Americans moved came from HireAHelper customer surveys conducted in July 2020, December 2020, and September 2021.
Illustrations by Chelsea Beck

How Much Does It Cost To Move to California in 2021?

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California has a lot to offer its residents: beautiful people and beaches, famous attractions, and yearlong sunshine. It’s no wonder people pay a premium to live there (overall, California has the fourth-highest cost of living, behind Hawaii, Washington D.C., and New York).

But how much does moving and living in California cost? Below are moving and price of living costs based on thousands of moves booked through HireAHelper and their affiliates*.

California Moving Costs in 2021

Avg. Cost of a California Move (Labor-only) – $465
Avg. Cost of a California Move (Movers + Truck) – $949
Avg. Cost of a Long-Distance Move w/ CA Destination – $5,600 

The average cost of a cross-country move to California is $5,600 according to Unpakt. A long-distance move to California varies wildly in cost, measured by both distance and size of move. You can expect anywhere between $2,000 from a state over, to over $10,000 to move multiple bedrooms from New York City to California. (See how much we can save you.)

Avg. Time and Distance of a California Move – 3 Hours
Avg. Distance of a California Move – 58 Miles

The average length of time of a move that features an origin, destination, or both within California is three hours, while the average distance traveled is just under 58 miles. (Most moves are local.)

How Do These Figures Compare to Other States?

$67 higher, on avg.

The average cost of Californian moving labor services is higher by $67.17, compared to the U.S. as a whole.

Across all move types and services, it costs $397.83 to move locally anywhere within the country, on average.

The national average timeframe for moving is also three hours, and items are transported an average of 36 miles. What service you order for your move makes a difference, though.

The Current State of Moving to California in 2021

moving to california

The previous year (2020) was a big one for moving, thanks in large part to COVID-19. Last year, a quarter of Americans who moved did so because of the pandemic.

With massive business shutdowns, millions of Americans found themselves out of work. In California alone, 2.7 million jobs were wiped out between March and April of 2020. That meant people downsized their living situations to account for decreased income and to absorb new pandemic-era expenses. According to one HireAHelper poll, about 35% of people in the U.S. who moved due to the pandemic cited financial hardship as their main reason for moving.

Millions of people also shifted to remote work—many of whom also had to juggle childcare and remote learning on top of their jobs. While this came with new financial challenges, it also presented the newfound flexibility to move away from major cities where physical offices were located to lower cost-of-living towns, which negatively impacted California’s typical business appeal.

Not too surprisingly, California lost more residents than it gained last year. That’s likely due to its higher tax burden and cost of living in general. Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose were the cities that lost the most residents in California. This is not a coincidence; they’re also among the cities with the highest costs of living—not just in California, but the whole country.

In San Francisco, for instance, median home prices are above $1.4 million. A family of four would need $111,136 in household income just to get by.

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More 2021 California Moving Stats

Avg. Cost of a Local California Move, by Moving Service

Given multiple moving options available to you, there are many pros and cons to each, including the price. The average California moving service costs in 2021 were as follows:

Transportation Type Avg. Labor Cost Avg. Transportation Cost Total Cost
Container $461 $2,762 $3,223
Truck $478 $345 $823
Freight Trailer $574 $1,500* $2,074**
**Expressed as a national average, as state-specific data is not available.

Avg. Cost of Labor-Only Moving Services in California by Job Type

Hiring labor-only saves people money, but which end of the move you hire for statistically makes a difference. The average cost of moving services by job type versus the U.S. average is as follows:

U.S. Average CA Average
Moving on-site only $309 $328
Moves with only unloading help $343 $451
Moves with only loading help $396 $461
Full move w/ both loading and unloading booked together $573 $727

Least Expensive Long-Distance Move (50+ Miles) in California by Origin/Destination* City (Avg.) 

City Average Move Cost
Chula Vista, CA $516
Burbank, CA $531
Panorama City, CA $637
Santa Ana, CA $648
Vista, CA $672

Most Expensive Long-Distance Move (50+ Miles) in California by Origin/Destination* City (Avg.)

City Average Move Cost
San Jose, CA $1,288
Sacramento, CA $1,252
Fremont, CA $1,129
Hayward, CA $1,109
Long Beach, CA $1,056
*California moves in the above graphs are calculated using booked moves where the origin city, destination city, or both reside within California and are at least 50 miles apart.

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Which Cities in California Are Growing and Shrinking?

Most popular Californian city by population net-gain ratio – El Dorado Hills, CA

This is a rural town just over 20 miles east of the state’s capital, Sacramento, CA.

Least popular Californian city by population net-loss ratio – San Jose, CA

As a major tech hub, it makes sense that workers in the Bay Area, who now have the ability to work from home, might be migrating to states and cities with a cheaper cost of living.

Most Affordable Calfornia Cities (by Median Home Value and Household Income)

Here’s a closer look at how seven of the most affordable cities’ income and housing numbers compare to the state average, according to various sources, including Cost of Living Index and U.S. Census data available as of 2021*.

Median Home Value Median Household Income
Bakersfield $214,600 $63,139
Chico $286,700 $45,337
Clovis $284,200 $68,682
Eureka $249,300 $39,720
Oxnard $390,000 $64,837
Redlands $350,900 $68,956
Temecula $394,600 $87,115
Vacaville $354,600 $77,807
California Avg. $578,267 $80,440
*Based on 2020 Census data expressed in 2019 dollars (2020-21 Census data releases in September 2021)

Cost of Moving WITHIN California (NorCal Versus SoCal)

moving to californiaContrary to popular belief, not everything’s more expensive in SoCal versus NorCal. When comparing the cost of moving in Northern California versus Southern California, there’s virtually no statistical difference. Moving labor costs are roughly $443 in both regions, on average.

That said, Southern California is home to the most expensive city for moving in the entire country: Riverside. On average, state moves originating in Riverside totaled $538, more than anywhere else.

Least Expensive Moves in California by Origin City (Avg.)

City Average Move Cost Region
Oceanside, CA $383 SoCal
Long Beach, CA $395 SoCal
Huntington Beach, CA $402 SoCal
Roseville, CA $414 NorCal
San Diego, CA $415 SoCal
Sacramento, CA $423 NorCal
San Francisco, CA $432 NorCal

Most Expensive Moves in California by Origin City (Avg.)

City Average Move Cost Region
Riverside, CA $538 SoCal
Oakland, CA $487 NorCal
Santa Monica, CA $487 SoCal
Carlsbad, CA $477 SoCal
San Jose, CA $457 NorCal
Los Angeles, CA $454 SoCal
Irvine, CA $437 SoCal

What Are California’s 2021 Tax Rates?

The costs of moving to and within California aren’t just about hiring movers, buying packing supplies, or renting self storage. Your purchases are also subject to income tax, which average particularly high in California, as compared to other states. (And if you’re coming from another state, there could be higher long-term costs of living by moving to California in the form of income taxes.)

Below is a breakdown of California tax rates.

Sales taxes in California include:

  • California sales tax rate: 7.25% (highest in the U.S.)
  • Average local sales tax rate: 1.43%
  • California gasoline tax rate: 60.6¢
  • California cigarette tax rate: $2.87 (per 20-pack)

California income tax rates are as follows:

$1,000,000+$1,000,000+13.30%

Taxable Income
Single  Married Filing Jointly Married Filing Sep. Head of Household Tax Rate
$0 – $8,809 $0 – $17,618 $0 – $8,809 $0 – $17,629 1.00%
$8,809 – $20,883 $17,618 – $41,766 $8,809 – $20,883 $17,629 – $41,768 2.00%
$20,883 – $32,960 $41,766 – $65,920 $20,883 – $32,960 $41,768 – $53,843 4.00%
$32,960 – $45,753 $65,920 – $91,506 $32,960 – $45,753 $53,843 – $66,636 6.00%
$45,753 – $57,824 $91,506 – $115,648 $45,753 – $57,824 $66,636 – $78,710 8.00%
$57,824 – $295,373 $115,648 – $590,746 $57,824 – $295,373 $78,710 – $401,705 9.30%
$295,373 – $354,445 $590,746 – $708,890 $295,373 – $354,445 $401,705 – $482,047 10.30%
$354,445 – $590,742 $708,890 – $1,181,484 $354,445 – $590,742 $482,047 – $803,410 11.30%
$590,742 – $999,999 $1,181,484 – $1,999,999 $590,742 – $999,999 $803,410 – $999,999 12.30%
$1,000,000+ $2,000,000+ $1,000,000+ 13.30%

If you’re considering moving to California, carefully consider the city’s cost of living compared to your salary. Even if you’re moving for a job, it may not be necessary to relocate to one of the big, expensive cities listed above. There are plenty of smaller, more affordable California cities—which aren’t necessarily in the middle of nowhere—including Eureka, Oxnard, Redlands, and Temecula.

And, when you’re ready to book movers in California, use our moving calculator to understand what your own unique moving costs might be.

*Unless otherwise indicated, the previous statistics are based on thousands of moves carried out by the halfway point of 2021. These data points are calculations of average and median costs of “labor-only” and/or “Mover + Truck” moving services booked through HireAHelper.com, as well as “Long Distance Move” moving services from MovingPlace.com, and may also include additional related moving data from industry partners and affiliates collected between 2020 and 2021.
Illustrations by Naomi Ann Clarke

2021 Study: Do People Actually Regret Moving?

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Key Findings

  • Despite some regrets, 82% of respondents admit that moving has changed their life for the better
  • 30% of Americans that we surveyed regret at least something about their move
  • People who moved due to COVID are most likely to regret their move (31%)
  • Among those who regret their move, “moving away from their friends” (49%) and “leaving the area they used to live in” (40%) are the top regrets
  • A quarter (26%) of people regretting their move felt that way immediately after moving
  • Regretting their moves, 15% of respondents are considering moving back to where they used to live
  • Location (51%), size (41%), and layout (38%) of home are most appreciated aspects of new home

 

Do people actually regret moving? Whether moving for a new job or to retire, moving in with a significant other, or moving back in with your parents, there are many factors at play for making the big jump.

This is why it seems perfectly natural that no matter how hard we prepare for our move, we might regret something about it afterward. 

And yet, most Americans who moved in the last year don’t regret their decision. In fact, most believe it made their life better, despite some reported complex feelings from those who did end up regretting their moves. 

Read on as we break down our most recent survey of over 1,200 people who moved over the last year.

A Regret Shared: Almost One in Three Americans Who Moved Have at Least Some Regrets

While most of those who moved in the past year don’t look back, about a third (30%) have at least a few regrets about their move. 

Millennials are the least pleased with their move, as 37% of them regret at least something about it—more than any other generation. Gen Z, on the other hand, is a lot more optimistic, as only 27% of them found something regrettable about their move.

Why people move might also have an effect on whether they regret it. Those who moved due to COVID, for example, are more likely to experience regret (31% versus 22%).

Similarly, those who moved in search of cheaper housing are somewhat predictably more likely to regret their move (33%) versus those who moved to a new and better home (19%).

Leaving Friends, Neighborhood, and Family: America’s Biggest Moving Regrets

People often claim they don’t like their living situation (e.g., rent cost, landlords). But what does the data say?

In truth, moving is more of a complex trade-off. Moving somewhere for work or study sometimes comes at the price of moving away from family; moving to a bigger, better home often means exchanging a bustling, vibrant city for quiet suburban living. 

 

“While most of those who moved in the past year don’t look back, about a third (30%) have at least a few regrets about their move.”

 

So it’s no surprise that Americans reported these factors (over bad landlords!) as the most regrettable aspects about their overall move. According to respondents who reported having regrets about their most recent move, nearly half (49%) list moving further away from friends over all stated reasons. 

Meanwhile, some 40% miss the area they used to live in, while 38% have regrets about moving further away from family, the latter likely exacerbated by the restrictions on family gatherings brought about by moving during the COVID pandemic. 

moving regretsNearly a quarter (23%) of those who regret moving feel that way because it meant leaving their previous home. This sentiment is most common among those who moved to save money on housing costs.

But other moving regrets are less sentimental and more tangible. For 30% of people who claim to regret moving, it’s not where they chose, but how much they paid for the move that added to their disappointment. And for roughly 10%, it’s the choice of moving company they wish they could do over. (It literally pays to do your research.)

Instant Regret: A Quarter of Americans Who Regretted Their Move Knew It Immediately

When you know, you know, as the old saying goes. As many as 26% of Americans who have regrets about their move developed that feeling straight away. An additional 9% developed regrets after a week. Meanwhile, it took 26% one whole month to realize their newfound predicament.

That New Home Feeling: What Americans Like and Dislike About Their New Homes

Judging by our survey, if there’s one thing Americans make sure their new home delivers on, it’s location. Over 60% of those surveyed reported liking where their new place is, while only 9% aren’t happy with it.

 

“Millennials are the least pleased with their move, as 37% of them regret at least something about it—more than any other generation.”

 

moving regretsHome size (41%) and layout (38%) are the second and third most appreciated aspects of a new residence, while roughly a third pointed out they’re happy about the amenities in their home (32%) and the local area (30%).

The most common dislike with regards to the new place was financial. Almost one in five (19%) Americans who moved in the past year aren’t happy with the cost of their new home. In fact, people who moved specifically to save on housing costs are most likely (69%) to be unhappy with what they’re paying in rent or mortgage for their new place. Knowing this, it’s vital to make sure you compare the moving services in your area for the best possible price.

The Right Move: Despite Regrets, Most Feel Their Move Changed Their Life for the Better

More than 8 in 10 (82%) Americans who moved in the last 12 months feel that the move changed their life for the better. Even 77% of those who have some regrets about their new home or how the move went seem to believe it was the right thing to do.

Much like with regrets, people who moved for certain reasons felt differently about the impact their move had on their life in general. For example, a reduced 69% of those whose move was forced by COVID felt the move affected them positively. 

People whose primary reason for moving was a new or better job are also less likely to feel that way—only 68% of them felt their move had a positive impact on their life.

A small minority (5%) felt the opposite way, saying that moving made their life worse. Only about one in ten (13%) admitted moving didn’t really make a difference to them one way or the other.

Most people have difficulty with coping with and embracing change, even if change is for the better. This is probably why many Americans who moved in the last year have at least a few regrets about their decision, even though the data overwhelmingly suggests moving makes people’s lives better on the whole.

Sources and Methodology
All the figures referenced above are based on a multi-question survey of 1,253 Americans who booked and completed a verified move using HireAHelper.com within the last 12 months.

 

Illustrations by Nero Hamaoui
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