The primary catalyst of moves in the past year and half is the work-from-home lifestyle driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies were forced to clear out offices because of the virus. Some of these companies have decided to allow workers to work wherever they would like.
United Van Lines tracks which cities and states people are leaving and which they are going to in its Annual National Movers Study, which it has published for 45 years. The research is based on the number of households United Van Lines has moved. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the study to find the 20 metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of outbound moves in 2021. A metro area had to have more than 100 moves to be considered.
Commenting on the results, Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, “This new data from United Van Lines is indicative of COVID-19’s impact on domestic migration patterns, with 2021 bringing an acceleration of moves to smaller, midsized towns and cities.” (These are the 16 states where the population shrank since the pandemic started.)
One trend the study shows is that the cities people are leaving tend to be concentrated around New York City. The city with the highest percentage of departures is Nassau-Suffolk, which is east of the city on Long Island. Departures accounted for 79% of total moves. Of the 12 metropolitan areas with the highest outbound moves, seven are in the New York City area.
These are the 20 cities Americans are moving out of the fastest
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. Lake, IL
> Percent of moves outbound: 67%
[in-text-ad]
Source: powerofforever / Getty Images
19. Bismarck, ND
> Percent of moves outbound: 67%
Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
18. Rockford, IL
> Percent of moves outbound: 67%
17. Monmouth, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 68%
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Hamilton, OH
> Percent of moves outbound: 68%
Source: gnagel / Getty Images
15. Oxnard, CA
> Percent of moves outbound: 69%
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
14. Lake Charles, LA
> Percent of moves outbound: 69%
Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
13. Chicago, IL
> Percent of moves outbound: 70%
Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
12. Jersey City, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 71%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
11. Trenton, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 71%
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
10. Springfield, IL
> Percent of moves outbound: 72%
[in-text-ad]
9. Middlesex, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 72%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: amlphoto / iStock via Getty Images
8. Poughkeepsie, NY
> Percent of moves outbound: 73%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
7. Joliet, IL
> Percent of moves outbound: 74%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
6. Newark, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 74%
Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
5. Binghamton, NY
> Percent of moves outbound: 75%
[in-text-ad]
4. Bergen, NJ
> Percent of moves outbound: 76%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Ed-Ni-Photo / Getty Images
3. Santa Cruz, CA
> Percent of moves outbound: 76%
Source: fdastudillo / Getty Images
2. Hagerstown, MD
> Percent of moves outbound: 77%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Nassau-Suffolk, NY
> Percent of moves outbound: 79%
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Here’s a Great First Step
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
