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2023 Study: The Year Gen Z Adults Moved More Than Any Other Generation

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Key Findings

  • Gen Z is the most mobile generation, as 17% of its adult members moved in 2023, compared to 8% across all ages
  • Around 16% of moves by Gen Z adults were to “establish their own household” – the highest percentage of all generations
  • Texas welcomed the most Gen Z overall (345,000), but West Virginia saw the highest net gain in Gen Z moves (+138%)
  • Vermont (-73%), Alabama (-68%), and Mississippi (-64%) were the states Gen Z were most likely to leave
  • The NYC metro area saw the biggest numeric influx of Gen Z members (183,000), but Austin-Round Rock, TX (+106%) had the greatest net gain

Generation Z — or Zoomers, as they’re sometimes called — have been the subject of many headlines lately. As they come of age, their differences from other generations in terms of workplace habits, home ownership ambitions, political views, and the use of technology are increasingly well-documented.

But what about moving? We know that Gen Z, like the generation before them, is burdened with less favorable economic outlooks, including poor housing affordability, high rent, and student debt. Presumably, in light of these factors, some surveys find a record number of young adults are staying put and living with their parents. 

 

“In absolute terms, their top destination was Texas, which welcomed 345,000 new Gen Z residents in 2023. However, the state with the greatest net gain of Gen Z moves was West Virginia. “

 

When we look at the moving data, however, a different trend emerges. Despite making up just 12% of the population, Gen Z adults (aged 18 to 26) accounted for 26% of all moves that took place in America this year. 

In this study, we take a deep dive into Gen Z moving patterns to uncover how actively they’re moving compared to other generations, highlight what motivates their moves and reveal where they’re moving to and from.

Zoom Zoom: Gen Z is the Most Mobile of All Generations in 2023

The thing about America is that, as a nation, we move a lot less now than we did a few decades ago. Save for a blip in 2022 when the percentage went up, the overarching trend has been pointing down since the mid-1980s.

However, this isn’t true for Gen Z at all. 17% of them moved in 2023 — a number twice as high as the national average. It was also the highest out of all other generations.

By comparison, only 11% of Millennials (Gen Y) moved this year. That share dips even lower for older generations, as 5% of Gen X and just 3% of Baby Boomers changed where they live in 2023.

Not only are Gen Z the most mobile generation, but they’re also the ones bucking the overall downward trend in moving. After a drop in 2020, which was likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Gen Z adults have been moving each year. And they’re the only generation to do so. 

Flying the Nest to Make Their Own: Key Reasons Behind Moves of Gen Z Members

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau data, the most common reason for moving among Gen Z members in 2023 was “establishing their own household”, i.e. most likely moving out of their parents’ home. 

Responsible for around 17% of all Gen Z moves, it was more popular with this generation than any other. Another reason for moving most distinctly popular with Gen Z was “relationship with unmarried partner” (read: move in with a significant other).

This reason drove around 8% of moves by Gen Z adults in 2023, which is higher than any other generation and is above the 5% national average. 

Despite reports of increased home-buying activity, Gen Z has the lowest share of moves associated with becoming a homeowner (≈5%) compared to other generations. 

At the same time, 9% of Gen Z adults moved for cheaper housing in 2023. The only generation for whom it was higher was Baby Boomers (10%).

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Almost Heaven: West Virginia Records Highest Net Gain in Gen Z Moves in 2023

So Gen Z is moving in record numbers, but where are they moving to and from?

In absolute terms, their top destination was Texas, which welcomed 345,000 new Gen Z residents in 2023. However, the state with the greatest net gain of Gen Z moves was West Virginia. 

In 2023, 138% more Gen Z adults moved to this state than left it. Four others — Utah (+137%), South Carolina (+136%), Colorado (+107%), and Kansas (+107%) — had at least twice as many members of Generation Z move in than move out.

States by net moves (only interstate moves are included)

State Net Gen Z Moves State Net Gen Z Moves
West Virginia 138% Vermont -73%
Utah 137% Alabama -68%
South Carolina 136% Mississippi -64%
Colorado 107% New York -57%
Kansas 107% Iowa -53%
Washington 97% Minnesota -53%
Idaho 96% North Carolina -48%
Kentucky 76% Wyoming -47%
Ohio 54% California -43%
Pennsylvania 52% Arkansas -43%

On the flipside, members of Gen Z were most likely to leave Vermont (-73%), Alabama (-68%), and Mississippi (-64%). It’s worth noting that New York (-57%) and California (-43%)  are states that often come out on top of net outflow rankings, and they feature here in the 4th and the 9th spot respectively. And speaking of the volume of moves, California alone saw over 415,000 Gen Z people leave the state in 2023.

To see what the Gen Z moving patterns looked like for all other states, check out our interactive map below.

Austin, TX Metro is a Gen Z Magnet: Top Destinations for Gen Z Moves

Texas and Florida didn’t feature high in state rankings, but their metros sure are up there for moving destinations among Generation Z members.

 

“17% of [Gen Z] moved in 2023 — a number twice as high as the national average. It was also the highest out of all other generations.”

 

Austin-Round Rock, TX (+106%) is in first place — it had twice as many Gen Z members move in than out of it. Florida, on the other hand, is represented by metro areas around Tampa, FL (+55%) and Jacksonville, FL (+38%), both posting healthy net gains. 

In line with state-level findings, Columbia, SC (+82%), Provo-Orem, UT (+53%), and Colorado Springs, CO (+37%) feature among the 10 metropolitan areas with the highest net gain in moves by Gen Z.

Metros by net moves

Metro Net Gen Z Moves Metro Net Gen Z Moves
Austin-Round Rock, TX +106% San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA -39%
Oklahoma City, OK +88% Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI -37%
Columbia, SC +82% New York–Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA -33%
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV +71% Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI -32%
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN  +78% Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI -26%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL +55% Pittsburgh, PA -24%
Provo-Orem, UT +53% Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA -24%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC +51% Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL -24%
Jacksonville, FL +38% San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA -22%
Colorado Springs, CO +37% Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN -20%

The other side of the table is dominated by metropolitan areas in California. As some of the most expensive places to live in the United States, metro areas around cities such as San Jose, CA (-39%), Los Angeles, CA (-24%), and San Francisco, CA (-22%) all many more Gen Z members leave than relocate here.

Incidentally, Florida also has a metropolitan area with one of the highest net losses of Gen Z residents. About 24% more members of Generation Z moved out of Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL than moved there in 2023.

Curious about what the situation is near you? We’ve put all metros with a significant number of moves by Gen Z adults onto this interactive map.

Sources and Methodology

All data on moves, their origins, destinations, and reasons behind them was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and its Annual Social and Economic Supplements, as available via IPUMS. All estimates and percentages are based on moves within the United States.
For this study, we adapted the definition of generations from Beresford Research which defined them based on their age in 2023 as follows:
  • Gen Z: 18* – 26
  • Gen Y (Millennials): 27 – 42
  • Gen X: 43 – 58
  • Baby Boomers: 59 – 77
Technically, Gen Z includes anyone from age 11, but our analysis only included moves made by adults.
Net gain and loss for states and metropolitan areas was calculated as follows:
  1. # of people moving into the state or city, to
  2. the # of people moving out of the state or city,
  3. expressed as a percentage (%)

2023 Study: Where Americans Are Moving Abroad Post-Pandemic

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Key Findings:

  • The UK is the #1 destination for moving abroad (~21,900 moves), ahead of Mexico (19,620 moves).
  • Compared to the same period last year, 30% more Americans moved to the UK in the first six months of 2023 
  • Canada welcomed 10% more Americans as new residents in the first six months of 2023 than at this time last year, according to official figures
  • 22% more Americans moved to European countries in 2022 (100,320) than in 2021
  • Fewer Americans are interested in moving abroad in 2023, as the number of relevant Google searches is down 30% year-over-year

When we last covered the topic of Americans moving abroad in late 2022, the interest in leaving the country was the highest it’s been since the Presidential Elections in 2016.

This year, despite a 30% reduction in moving-abroad-related Google searches, American moves outside of the country don’t seem to be slowing down. In fact, more Americans moved to the UK, Mexico, and Canada so far in 2023 than at this time last year. 

In this year’s study, we chart the updated numbers of Americans moving abroad, look at top destinations overall, and highlight the fastest-growing areas in recent years.

Less Googling, More Moving: Moves to Top Destinations Hold Steady as Search Interest Declines

In the first nine months of 2023, there were around 59,000 monthly Google searches in the United States for “moving abroad” or “moving to <insert country>”.

 

“Not only has the UK overtaken Mexico as the top destination overall, but Canada received fewer U.S. citizens as new residents (10,415) than France (12,220), Spain (11,156), and Germany (10,510).”

 

Impressive as that number is, it’s 30% less than in 2022 when the average number of monthly searches for moving abroad and related keywords was 84,020. This includes a 53% reduction in searches for “moving to Canada”, and an 81% year-over-year drop in searches for “moving to Spain”.

Only a handful of countries saw a higher search interest in 2023. Searches for moving to the Middle Eastern countries of Bahrain (+50%) and Saudi Arabia (+43%) spiked the highest, while Belgium (+18%) and South Africa (+15%) saw a moderate increase in relocation interest.

an illustration of two people sitting in a living room. the canadian flag can be seen waving outside the window.But while the search interest in moving abroad is waning, the number of U.S. citizens moving to some of the top destination countries in 2023 is increasing year-over-year.

The United Kingdom, for example, had over 11,500 Americans move there from January through June 2023, about 30% more than in the first six months of 2022. The number of Americans who moved to Canada (+10%) and Mexico (+1%) in the first eight months of 2023 is higher than in the same period last year. 

Steady Flow: American Moves Abroad Hit Five-Year High in 2022

According to official statistics, almost 160,000 U.S. citizens relocated to one of 40 different countries for work, study, or family reasons in 2022. Which is more Americans leaving the country than any year since 2017. 

The most popular destinations for Americans moving abroad include countries such as Mexico, Canada, the UK, all the countries of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Israel.

2022’s figure is not only the highest number going back five years, but it also represents a 16% increase in the number of moves abroad compared to 2021. In fairness, the years 2020 and 2021 were significantly affected by the pandemic, resulting in a significant decrease in moves abroad and travel in general.

Taken together, over 821,000 U.S. citizens relocated to one of these 40 countries since 2017. 

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Move Over, Canada: Top Destinations for American Moves Abroad in 2022

If Americans are leaving the country in record numbers, where are they going? Traditionally, the top destinations have been America’s neighbors Canada and Mexico, and the United Kingdom, with whom the U.S. has significant historical ties.

In 2022, however, the top destinations looked different. Not only has the UK overtaken Mexico as the top destination overall, but Canada received fewer U.S. citizens as new residents (10,415) than France (12,220), Spain (11,156), and Germany (10,510).

As Canada drops a few places in the destinations ranking, Japan is on its way up. Having been closed for entry due to the COVID-19 pandemic longer than most countries, it only properly reopened in 2022 to see 6,642 U.S. citizens relocate there — more than twice as many moves than in 2021 (2,983).

Surf’s Up: Fastest-Growing Destinations for Americans Leaving the U.S.

Japan may have recorded a significant bump in the number of U.S. citizens relocating there, but it’s actually a return to normal numbers after the steep drop caused by COVID. 

Portugal has seen the greatest influx of moves (+195%) from the United States compared to before the pandemic. Known for being one of the sunniest countries in the world, with a relatively low cost of living, and beautiful beaches, it became a top destination for digital nomads during the pandemic years. 

New Zealand — another country with world-renowned beaches and scenery — is the second fastest-growing destination for Americans moving abroad, with 146% taking residence there in 2022, compared to 2019.

On the other hand, countries such as Brazil (-50%), Ireland (-33%), and South Korea (-31%) saw the number of Americans moving decline compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Why We Leave: Some Reasons Behind Americans Moving Abroad

While we don’t have hard data on the specific reasons why Americans decide to leave the United States, there are a few factors we can pinpoint.

 

“According to official statistics, almost 160,000 U.S. citizens relocated to one of 40 different countries for work, study, or family reasons in 2022. Which is more Americans leaving the country than any year since 2017.”

 

According to a recent Washington Post analysis, one reason for the rise of Americans moving to Mexico is that ethnic Mexicans (who were born in the U.S. and have U.S. citizenship) decide to move to Mexico with family. Deportations, unfortunately, also play a part.

The same analysis picks out “a sense of adventure” as one of the forces driving Americans to move abroad, such as wanting to work or study somewhere completely different. More pragmatic reasons include lower cost of living, lower taxation, and better quality of life, as CNN’s reporting suggests.

There is some anecdotal evidence that the rise of remote work and the digital nomad movement is responsible for some Americans leaving the U.S., but it’s difficult to estimate how permanent those moves are and how many people are making them.

Sources and Methodology

Only moves with stated reasons indicating a certain degree of permanence were analyzed, including work, study, and family. Military moves were excluded, as were the moves for temporary purposes, such as temporary business and tourism.
Sources for each country:
The number of monthly searches was taken from Google Ads API as the total average monthly search volume for keywords of the type “moving to <insert country>” (e.g., “moving to Canada”, “moving to Mexico” and “moving abroad”.
Illustrations by Emma Donnelly

2022 Study: Trends and Findings From Americans Moving to Mexico

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Key Findings

  • The number of U.S. citizens moving to Mexico in 2022 is set to reach 18,161 — the highest in nearly a decade 
  • More than half (52%) of Americans who moved to Mexico in 2022 were retirees
  • Jalisco and Mexico City attract nearly a third (31%) of all U.S. citizens moving to Mexico 
  • Rent is two times lower than in the United States, on average
  • There was an avg. of 1,870 monthly Google searches for “moving to Mexico” in 2022 — a 42% YoY increase
  • North Carolina (+75%), Texas (+65%), and Florida (+60%) saw the greatest YoY increases in Google searches for “moving to Mexico”

The number of Americans moving to Mexico over recent years is estimated to be between 800,000 and 1.5 million. And lately, that number has been growing rapidly.

Americans leave the country for any number of reasons: relaxed COVID restrictions, affordable housing, affordable healthcare and social care, greater conditions for remote work, warm climate, amazing food, rich and varied culture, and the list goes on. Mexico has all of these things, and it’s right next door.

But what is the cost to the country? The influx of immigrants with higher incomes is reportedly having adverse effects on the local population; there are reports of gentrification in Mexico City, rents doubling in Tijuana, and foreign demand driving up prices in Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur — all places that are among the top destinations for Americans settling into Mexico.

Let’s dive into the numbers and see just how many Americans have moved to Mexico in 2022.

Going South: Migration to Mexico To Reach New Heights in 2022

As reported in our recent study of Americans moving abroad, 10,594 U.S. citizens have taken residence in Mexico so far in 2022.

Not only is that 22% higher than by the same time last year, but at this rate, it’s estimated 18,161 Americans will have moved to Mexico by the end of 2022. That figure is higher than in any year since 2013.

When looking at this trend in more detail, the number of temporary residents (as opposed to permanent residents) has increased sharply. Temporary residents are defined as people who intend to stay in Mexico for longer than 180 days for the stated purposes of either work, study, reunification with family or business ventures.

 

“… it’s estimated 18,161 Americans will have moved to Mexico by the end of 2022. That figure is higher than in any year since 2013.”

 

Already in 2021, over 9,000 U.S. citizens have successfully applied for a temporary residency in Mexico; that’s the highest number of applications over the last decade!

By the end of this year, Mexico is on track to receive 10,780 Americans as new temporary residents.

Jalisco — Not Mexico City — Is the Top Destination for American Immigrants

There is certainly a lot of buzz about Americans moving to Mexico City, but it is the state of Jalisco that consistently sees more U.S. citizens moving in than Mexico’s capital… or any other state for that matter.

american migration

Over 2,000 Americans have moved to Jalisco in 2022, and that figure is likely to reach 3,400 people by year’s end. That would mean nearly one in five (19%) Americans moving to Mexico choose to move to Jalisco, a West Coast city.

The nation’s capital, Mexico City, isn’t too far behind Jalisco. Mexico City has seen 1,315 American move-ins so far in 2022, with 2,254 projected by year’s end (~12% of the total migration). Baja California Sur also ranks high, with an estimated 1,867 new residents from the United States, (~10% of the total inflow).

Another state that seems to be fast becoming a popular destination is Quintana Roo. 

Best known for being home to Cancun, this state is beginning to attract Americans looking to live (and not just party) there. In 2022, Quintana Roo is projected to attract nearly 13% of all moves from the United States — that’s second only to Jalisco.

Taken together, these four states receive the majority (54%) of all Americans moving to Mexico.

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Remote Work? More Like Retirement! Most Common Reasons for American Immigration to Mexico

Since 2012, almost a third (31%) of all Americans who moved to Mexico as temporary or permanent residents reportedly did so for work. That’s based on the official immigration statistics which group all new residents into categories of “work”, “family reunification”, “retirement”, and “other”. 

An additional 23% of immigrants from the United States get their resident permits in Mexico by being a family member of either a Mexican national or another U.S. citizen who already has a valid residence permit.

The most popular category of permits issued to Americans is called “rentista” – which is the most common route to residency for retirees.

In the last decade, 40% of all U.S. citizens who took up residency in Mexico were retirees; this year, that share has jumped to 52%. In other words, over half of all Americans moving to Mexico are reportedly doing so during their retirement. This might suggest U.S. cost of living is having an impact on social security stability as well.

Tourists or Residents?

And what about that segment of American remote workers whose moves to Mexico have been subject to much discussion and debate? 

As the number of U.S. citizens moving to Mexico is setting new records, in some parts of Mexico, calls for Americans to go back home are beginning to be heard.

mexico american immigration

While Mexico does offer a Temporary Resident Visa for remote workers under the Financial Solvency clause, official statistics don’t distinguish these types of residents from other temporary resident holders. It is likely that they are bundled into the “Other” category, which also covers people relocating for scientific research, government work and more.

Iit’s reasonable to assume remote workers who are giving Mexico a go are likely making use of Mexico’s easy-to-obtain tourist visas, which allow immigrants to stay in the country for up to six months.

Summer Spike: Searches for Moving to Mexico Peaked in June 2022

The data show no sign of American immigration slowing down anytime soon. On top of the growing number of recorded moves, moving intent (signified by Google searches for “moving to Mexico”) is the highest it’s been in years.

 

“…there wasn’t a single state that didn’t increase their Googling of Mexico.”

 

From 2019 to 2021, the number of monthly Google searches for “moving to Mexico” tended to stay between 1,500 and 2,000. 

By the middle of 2022, however, these searches reached 3,100. Though it’s not simple to know the causation, that spike correlates with the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of the precedent-setting Roe v. Wade decision, as well as 9.1% currency inflation in America — its highest rate in 40 years. 

Where in America ‘Moving to Mexico’ Searches Peaked

The average number of monthly Google searches in America for “moving to Mexico” rose roughly 36% year-over-year, reaching 2,100 searches in 2022 — that’s up an average of 1,550 searches.

Overall, there wasn’t a single state that didn’t increase their Googling of Mexico; all states saw greater search volume for “moving to Mexico” this year as compared to 2021.

Some states, however, stand out. In North Carolina, there was a 75% increase in Google searches for “moving to Mexico”. Searches also jumped 65% in Texas and 60% in Florida, respectively.

By contrast, California, where the number of “moving to Mexico” searches is the highest in the country, only saw a Google search increase of 15% in 2022, as compared to last year.

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All About Affordability: Why Mexico Attracts Expats From Around the World

Mexico is finding itself to be a magnet not only for Americans, but for expats across the globe.

In its Expat Insider 2022 report, Inter Nations — an expat community hub — named Mexico the number one country for expats. Among the aspects that propelled it to the top spot are “affordability” and “ease of settling in”, which both listed Mexico as the very best in the world.

 

“It’s reasonable to assume remote workers who are giving Mexico a go are likely making use of Mexico’s easy-to-obtain tourist visas, which allow immigrants to stay in the country for up to six months.”

 

Affordability of housing and medical care are also likely to attract Americans; both are increasingly unaffordable for vast strands of the U.S. population.

Healthcare

A survey commissioned by ExpatsInMexico – an online magazine for foreigners living in Mexico – found that for 75% of expats, $150 per month covers all of their healthcare needs. It’s an attractive proposition for retirees, who make up 80% of the survey respondents and are likely to spend twice that amount, at minimum, if they remained in the United States.

Rent

Rent is another big immigration factor. When in the United States, the average rent is now over $2,000, and growing in over 90% of U.S. cities, the average rent in the four states of Mexico that are top destinations for U.S. immigrants is below $800.

Of the four top destination states, rent is lowest in Jalisco ($720 per month) and Quintana Roo ($735). Rent is slightly higher in Mexico City ($787), and noticeably higher in Baja California Sur ($925). (All figures are expressed in average dollar amount after conversion.)

Sure enough, the houses and apartments Americans moving to are likely to be at the higher end of the price spectrum. But if you consider that most Americans moving to Mexico are retirees, rents this low must be extremely appealing, even if they sold their homes to make the move.

Sources and Methodology
Official immigration statistics come from the Unidad de Política Migratoria – Boletines Estadísticos and were used to estimate the number of Americans moving to Mexico. Only moves requiring either a temporary or a permanent work permit were counted. Military moves were excluded, as were the moves for temporary purposes, such as business and tourism.
The total and average monthly search volumes for the keyword “moving to Mexico” were taken from Google Ads API.
Rent prices for Mexican cities were sourced from Propiedades.com, while the estimates of average rents in the U.S. were taken from Redfin. 

 

Illustrations by Lauren Ibañez

2022 Study: Where Americans Are Actually Moving Abroad ????✈️

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Key Statistics on Americans Moving Abroad:

  • Mexico is the top destination for Americans moving abroad, followed by the U.K., Canada and Australia
  • So far in 2022, ~75% more Americans have moved to Mexico than Canada 
  • Portugal has seen the biggest percentage increase in Americans moving in (+122% from 2019-2021)
  • Japan had the highest % drop of Americans moving in (-53% fewer in 2021 compared to 2019)
  • A five-year low, 2020 saw just under 74,000 Americans relocate abroad
  • Canada, Spain and the U.K. are the most Googled moving destinations this year

In our last study on Americans moving abroad, we detailed the places Americans who leave the country target, as well as explored some of the reasons driving them to leave.

Nearly two years later, now is as great a time as ever to revisit American immigration, given recent high-profile Supreme Court decisions, a spike in the cost of living, and chronically unaffordable housing all among the major issues contributing to a persistent global perception that America is a less desirable place to live.

But what do the numbers say?

In this study, we examine what countries Americans have been moving to, where they’re thinking of moving based on their Google searches, and how both of those trends have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going South? Mexico Tops U.K. and Canada as Americans’ Top Destination

Based on the most recent data, over 16,000 U.S. citizens moved to Mexico as temporary or permanent residents in 2021. That’s more than any of the 15 most common destination countries for American moves abroad (more on this later).

 

“Last year, 34% more Americans relocated to Mexico than to Canada.”

 

Moves to Mexico outnumber those to the United Kingdom (14,626), and Canada (11,955), which are the second and third most popular destinations. The fourth most popular destination is Australia, where an estimated 7,948 Americans relocated in 2021. 

Spain rounds off the top five, welcoming 7,173 Americans as new residents this year, overtaking other European destinations like France and Germany, as well as countries farther afield, such as Israel, Japan, and New Zealand.

Where to Now? Where Americans Are Ending up in 2022

While the statistics on moves this year haven’t been published by most of the countries we analyzed, we do have specific figures on the number of Americans who moved to Canada, the U.K., and Mexico in 2022.

Some 10,594 Americans moved to Mexico in 2022, which is 75% higher than those who moved to Canada (6,025). And this isn’t the first time Mexico-bound moves outnumber moves to Canada either.

Last year, 34% more Americans relocated to Mexico than to Canada. In the last five years, Mexico attracted an accumulative 13% more U.S. citizens than America’s neighbor to the north.

If migration to Mexico continues at its current pace, the country will receive over 18,000 U.S. citizens as new residents, a new five-year high. 

Interestingly, more Americans are even moving across the Atlantic to the U.K. than across their northern border. (As many as 8,324 U.S. citizens have relocated to the United Kingdom so far in 2022, which is 38% more than the number of those who moved to Canada.)

Yet while still high, the total tally of Americans moving to the U.K. and Canada in 2022 currently projects at 14,269 and 10,328 respectively—both below their 2021 levels.

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Goodbye, Japan! Hello, Portugal! Unique Trends in U.S. Moves Abroad 

Between 2017-2019, the raw number of Americans moving into one of the top 15 countries we profiled was roughly around 104,000 Americans a year.

The COVID pandemic made a significant dent in that number in 2020, bringing the number down to under 74,000 Americans leaving for new countries, roughly a 29% drop.

Yet as COVID restrictions have eased and vaccination programs have been introduced across the world, moves abroad picked up the pace again in 2021 (the last year for which government data has been released); moves abroad reached 97,806 last year— almost on par with the pre-pandemic years.

Based on countries that published their immigration statistics for 2022, the number of Americans moving to one of the top 15 countries in our analysis may return to six-digit figures by the end of 2022. However, with an estimated 100,975 moves, ex-pats likely will remain just below pre-pandemic levels.

Countries Defying the Numbers

Overall, there are still outlier countries that saw a significant jump in their total of American immigrants during 2021. Chief among them is Portugal, with 2,475 U.S. citizens relocating to this European country last year. That’s ~122% more Americans who moved there than in either 2020 or 2019!

 

“Canada may not be topping the rankings of move destinations, but it sure dominates moving intent. Americans typed ‘moving to Canada’ into Google approximately 21,000 a month in 2022, far more than similar keywords for other countries.”

 

Other countries that saw a significant percentage increase in the number of U.S. inbound moves post-pandemic include New Zealand (+78% in 2021 versus 2019), Costa Rica (+47%), and Israel (+40%).

That said, not all countries saw a return to pre-pandemic moving levels. With 2,983 moves last year, U.S. migration to Japan is still 53% below the 2019 levels. (This is no surprise, as the country has only just recently opened its borders to individual tourists.)

Elsewhere, six major countries that are traditionally among the most popular destinations for Americans saw fewer Americans moving to them in 2021 as compared to 2019. These countries are:

  • Italy (-41%)
  • France (-28%)
  • Germany (-24%)
  • Ireland (-21%),
  • U.K. (-20%),
  • South Korea (-16%)

Moving Intent: Most Searched Moving Abroad Destinations in 2022

Canada may not be topping the rankings of move destinations, but it sure dominates moving intent.

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Americans typed “moving to Canada” into Google approximately 21,000 a month in 2022, far more than similar keywords for other countries.

Surprisingly, the second most searched-for moving destination is not Mexico, but Spain, with 8,100 monthly searches so far this year. It’s just ahead of the three English-speaking countries: the ever-present U.K. (7,670 monthly searches), Australia (5,080), and New Zealand (3,800).

The top 20 most-searched-for-moving destinations are grouped as follows:

Some of these countries have historical ties to the United States, such as Japan (2,850 monthly searches), Ireland (2,140), and the Netherlands (1,190). Yet many are simply known for their relative prosperity and robust social welfare systems, such as Switzerland, Iceland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. 

Then there are places most known for their warm, pleasant climates and comparatively lower cost of living, like Portugal, Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize.

Lockdown Dreams Vs. COVID Reality: As Intent To Move Abroad Peaked in 2020, Actual Moves Plummeted

After diving deeper into Americans’ plans to move abroad, an interesting trend emerged. The number of searches for keywords around moving abroad was at a five-year high in 2020.

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (also an election year), America saw 102,000 monthly searches related to moving abroad, or to a particular country. This was a whopping 40% increase from the year prior!

However, this five-year high in searches ironically overlapped with a five-year low in actual moves abroad. Again, just under 74,000 Americans moved into one of the top 15 destination countries in 2020. That’s around 30% fewer than in either 2018 or 2019.

In 2021, moving abroad-related searches went back down, with about 28% fewer searches compared to 2020. Yet wanderlust has interestingly recovered in 2022; there have been 92,000 monthly searches for moving abroad, including to specific countries.

While still behind the 2020 peak of Canadian obsession, the current volume of searches is still higher than in the pre-pandemic years.

Mixed Picture: Reasons Why Americans Leave the United States

canada

In absence of hard data, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact reasons that are pushing Americans to move abroad. A recent article in Entrepreneur suggests the recent strengthening of the dollar and the rise of remote work play a part.

Reports in Forbes and Bloomberg both hint that the prospect of home ownership getting further out of reach is what is pushing Americans out of the country. In this vein, remote work and remote-work-specific visas are cited as contributing factors for defectors.

The truth is it’s still too early to definitively tell whether recent political events in the U.S. will shape immigration. However, what we do know is there continues to be an increasing number of reports of young Americans and people of color leaving the country in search of a safer and more equitable place to live.

Sources and Methodology
The top 15 countries outlined in this study are a combination of countries with most U.S. citizens living abroad (based on International Migrant Stock data, see Origin and Destination file) and the countries most searched as destinations for “moving to <insert country>” queries based on Google search volume data for 2022 obtained by Google Ads API. Only moves with stated reasons indicating a certain degree of permanence were analyzed, including work, study and family. Military moves were excluded, as were the moves for temporary purposes, such as temporary business and tourism.
Sources for each country:
Mexico: Unidad de Política Migratoria – Boletines Estadísticos
United Kingdom: Home Office – Managed Migration Datasets
Canada: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Australia: Home Affairs: Visa Statistics
Spain: Ministerio De Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones – Flujo de Autorizaciones de Residencia Concedidas a Extranjeros
Germany: Federal Statistical Office of Germany 
France: Direction générale des étrangers en France – Chiffres-clés, séjour, visas, éloignements, asile, accès à la nationalité
Ireland: Central Statistics Office – Population and Migration Estimates
South Korea: Statistics Korea – International Migration Statistics
Italy: I.Stat – Permessi di soggiorno dei cittadini stranieri
Israel: Central Bureau of Statistics – Immigration
Japan: e-Stat – Immigration Control Statistics – Status of Residence for Newly Entered Foreigners by Nationality/Region
Portugal: PorData
New Zealand: Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment – Migration Statistics
Costa Rica: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjeria – Informes Estadísticos Anuales​
The number of monthly searches was taken from Google Ads API as the total average monthly search volume for keywords of the type “moving to <insert country>” (e.g., “moving to canada”, “moving to mexico” and “moving abroad”.)
Data was collected in September 2022. Browse the data in the interactive table below.
Illustrations by Emma Donnelly

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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