America’s Relocation Priorities for 2021? More Open Space and Closer Proximity to Family

Earlier this month, United Van Lines released its 45th Annual National Movers Study, which tracks the company’s exclusive data for United Van Lines’ customers’ state-to-state migration patterns.

According to the 2021 data collected by United Van Lines, Vermont was the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration (74%). Topping the list of outbound locations was New Jersey (71%), which has held the spot for the past four years. Additionally, South Dakota (69%), South Carolina (63%), West Virginia (63%) and Florida (62%) rounded out the top five inbound states for 2021, while Illinois (67%), New York (63%), Connecticut (60%) and California (59%), which have frequently appeared on the list of top outbound states in recent years, again ranked among top states with the largest numbers of people relocating out-of-state.

In 2021, the annual study again looked at what is motivating people to make interstate moves and the findings indicated that 31.8% of Americans who moved did so in order to be closer to family – a new trend coming out of the pandemic as priorities and lifestyle choices shift. Additionally, 32.5% of Americans moved for a new job or job transfer, a significant decrease from 2015, when more than 60% of Americans cited a job or transfer.

Amidst the backdrop of the pandemic, 2021 saw Gen Xers begin to retire (earlier than previous generations), joining many Baby Boomers who have already exited the workforce. And while many retirees select states like Florida, the data collected by United Van Lines’ reveals they’re not always heading to heavily populated cities like Orlando and Miami. Instead, less densely populated locales like Punta Gorda (81% inbound), Sarasota (79% inbound) and Fort Myers-Cape Coral (77% inbound) are more appealing. Similarly, in Oregon, cities including Medford-Ashland (83%) and Eugene-Springfield (79%) saw high inbound migration in 2021, as opposed to larger cities like Portland.

Below is a map that provides a visual illustration of the highest inbound and outbound states for 2021:

It’s fun to see how moving trends change from year to year through United Van Lines’ annual migration study. Gaining a better understanding of national relocation trends helps our team to anticipate demand for our relocation services. Further, the data collected by United Van Lines provides us with valuable insight as to why people are moving from state-to-state – whether it be to take a new job, move closer to family, or retire. Having this information helps us to better align our services with the evolving needs of customers.

For more information on the 2021 study click here.

About King Companies As an agent of United Van Lines, King Companies has the resources and expertise to be your “go-to” resource for all relocation needs. Whether you are relocating your household, moving an office, or are in need of logistics services, we strive to ensure that your next move will be the best you will ever make. Call us today at 800-854-3679 to learn more.

We hope that you will consider King Companies for your future relocation needs. To learn more about our services, visit is at www.kingcompaniesusa.com. And, don’t forget to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for our latest news and updates!