Americans are moving less frequently — and staying closer to home

Fewer Americans are packing up and relocating, and when they do move, they are likely to stay within their current region, according to a new analysis published by Bank of America.

The findings suggest that the era of a dramatic nationwide migration has faded, replaced by a quieter trend of households trading one nearby city for another due to better housing affordability.

Bank of America’s report analyzed anonymized account data from millions of customers and tracked domestic moves through 2025. It shows the number of movers has dropped sharply since the post-pandemic peak — with interstate moves declining faster than moves within the same metropolitan area.

The study found Americans are increasingly reluctant to move long distances. Even when households relocate, they tend to remain in the same census region, signaling a preference for proximity to family, jobs and familiar surroundings.

“The big story isn’t a national reshuffle — it’s people trading one nearby city for another that fits their budget and lifestyle a little better,” the report said.

Climate and lifestyle preferences also remain key drivers, especially for moves between regions, the report explained.

While overall mobility has slowed, some regions are still attracting newcomers. The Midwest saw notable gains, driven by lower housing costs and large-scale projects such as data center construction.

Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, ranked among the fastest-growing metro areas, with Cleveland also seeing an influx of new residents.

At the same time, nearly two-thirds of major metro areas tracked by the study experienced net domestic migration declines, highlighting uneven population shifts across the country.

Austin, Denver, Philadelphia draw newcomers

Austin led the list of growing cities, with many new residents arriving from elsewhere in Texas.

Roughly one-quarter of Austin’s new residents came from other major Texas metros, with additional inflows from the South and West.

The city also saw balanced inflows and outflows, suggesting it serves both as a destination and a stepping stone for residents who later move to other cities.

Denver attracted newcomers from across the West and South, reflecting its appeal as a mountain city alternative to coastal hubs.

Nearly 80% of newcomers to Denver came from these regions, while a significant share of departures headed to more affordable cities in the South.

Philadelphia also posted a sizable inflow, although its large population kept its percentage growth modest. Philadelphia drew many New Yorkers, with more than one in four new residents arriving from New York City.

Philadelphia also attracted migrants from the broader Northeast and South regions — reinforcing its role as a regional hub for affordability-minded households.

High-cost cities see departures

Los Angeles, New York and Miami recorded the largest outflows in absolute terms.

In Los Angeles, most departing residents stayed within the West, moving to cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix. High housing costs and environmental risks such as wildfires may be contributing factors.

New York also experienced significant outflows, with many residents heading to other East Coast cities or the South for warmer weather and lower costs.

Miami saw the steepest percentage decline among major metros, as residents relocated to other parts of Florida or the broader South.

Despite these losses, large cities continue to attract newcomers — often from similarly expensive metros, suggesting they remain magnets for certain workers and households.

Bank of America researchers cautioned that the data reflects only domestic migration among a fixed sample of customers and does not capture international migration.

Still, the findings align with broader trends that show Americans are moving less frequently and traveling shorter distances when they do.