U.S. Census Releases Reports on Migration

The Great Recession and housing crisis has made a big impact on how many U.S. residents decide to move, according to reports from the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. move rate has continued to stay at about 12 percent since 2008. This rate has held steady between 11.5 and 12.5 percent, and about 1 in 9 people moved between 2013 and 2014. That’s an estimated 35.7 million people who migrated over the U.S. during that year.

“When the Current Population Survey started collecting migration information in 1948, about one-in-five people moved over a one-year period,” said David Ihrke, a demographer with the Census Bureau’s Journey-to-Work and Migration Statistics Branch in a press release. “Today, that number has fallen to about one in nine.”

According to Geographical Mobility: 2013 to 2014, movement to the suburbs continued with 2.2 million people moving away from cities. Renters also continue to have high move rates with 24.5 percent of all people living in renter-occupied housing unites lived somewhere else one-year before. Landing a new job or getting a job transfer remains the top reason for moving.

Young adults have historically had the highest rate of migration in the U.S. However, this age group was also affected by the Great Recession; with migration for those aged 18-34 dropping 1.4 percent after the recession, according to Young Adult Migration: 2007-2009 to 2010-2012. Much of the overall decline in migration is primarily due to this age group.

Metros with local colleges had a larger amount of in movers than other areas. Providence, Rhode Island, Rochester, New York, and Boston Massachusetts had the greatest percentage of young adult in movers to a large city after the recession at 60 percent. Smaller metros like Provo, Utah, Syracuse, New York, and Monroe, Louisiana also had high numbers for young adult migration due to the college effect. However, migration rates are still down, meaning more young people are staying close to home and opting not to move away.

While move rates remain low, 1 in 10 Americans still want to move, according to the Census  Desire to Move and Residential Mobility 2010-2011 report. Of that 10 percent, only 18.3 percent of the 11.2 million householders who wanted to move actually did so between 2010 and 2011.

"Fifty-six percent of people who didn’t move in 2010 but wanted to, no longer wanted to move when interviewed again the following year. However, this does not necessarily mean that these residents were satisfied with where they lived,” said Peter Mateyka, an analyst with the Census Bureau’s Journey-to-Work and Migration Statistics Branch and the report author. “Some additional factors that influence if people move include time, money, health and suitable alternative homes, which may explain why many people change their minds about moving.”

Renters had one of the higher desire rates at 16.4 percent, double the rate of homeowners. Those ages 16 to 34 also had a high desire to move at 14.6 percent compared to those 35 and older. Households in poor areas, householders with a disability, and households with children also had a higher desire to move than their counterparts.

Householders who wanted to move cited several reasons for their decision. About 6 percent said they were dissatisfied with housing conditions. Almost 5 percent reported dissatisfaction with their neighborhood. Dissatisfaction with local safety and public services were also reasons householders used for their desire to move.