The Future Homeownership Report

Each year, HireAHelper analyzes where Americans are moving, why they’re leaving one place for another, and what that says about the economy, housing, and everyday life. The National Migration Report is our flagship study of U.S. relocation patterns, giving journalists, researchers, and industry professionals a consistent, year-over-year look at how America moves.

In 2026, the American Dream is facing a reality check. The median U.S. home price has climbed to $390,300 and is projected to reach $527,525 by 2031 - a 35.1% increase in just five years. But incomes aren't keeping up, despite growing minimum wages. Across the country, the gap between what people earn and what it takes to buy a home is widening fast, pushing homeownership further out of reach for millions of Americans.

This is a nationwide affordability crisis with sharp regional divides. In some states, buying a home still aligns with what the average household earns. In others, even an income of $100,000 falls short.

Using median home prices, household incomes, and five-year projections, this report reveals where Americans can still afford to buy today, where affordability is deteriorating fastest, and which markets may become realistic, or completely out of reach, by 2031.

In this study, HireAHelper takes a close look at moves forced by natural disasters in the United States.

Using the most recent data from the Census Bureau’s large-scale Household Pulse Survey and Current Population Survey, we focused on the number of disaster-forced moves over time, their typical destinations, as well as the types of disasters forcing most Americans out of their homes.

Driven by record inflation and rising fuel and vehicle costs, U.S. moving costs reached an all-time high in 2022. The average cost that year was $410—peaking at $454 in August—representing a 7% increase from 2021.

Prices have not yet given way; data from the first five months of 2023 shows an average moving cost of $399, which is 4% higher than the same period last year. It remains uncertain whether these costs will stay elevated or decline, which states will experience the sharpest price hikes, and if any areas will become cheaper.

Moving to a new state can be a stressful experience when you have a furry friend to take along. Relocating with a pet requires additional planning and preparation, as the majority of states require cats and dogs to have a valid health certificate and a current rabies vaccination, at the minimum.

Some states, like New York or Nebraska, impose additional requirements for health certificates and vaccinations. Others, such as Maine or New Jersey, allow cats and dogs to move in without any proof of health status or vaccination at all. It can get kind of confusing!Read on to see which states are the strictest in terms of moving with a pet, see which are the most lenient, and find out whether it’s cats or dogs that face the most scrutiny when moving across state lines.

As college enrollment declines and an increasing number of students are choosing to go to college in their home state, which U.S. colleges and universities continue to see a steady stream of American students from all around the country?

Based on a combination of factors, we created a "College Move Index". This is a ranking that compares top U.S. colleges on how much “pull” they have in terms of attracting new students from across the country.

An estimated 800,000 to 1.5 million Americans now live in Mexico, and that number is growing rapidly. Driven by affordable housing, a warm climate, remote work flexibility, and close proximity to the U.S., Mexico has become a top destination.

However, this influx of higher-income expats carries a cost. Rising foreign demand is fueling gentrification, doubling rents in Tijuana, and driving up local prices in popular areas like Mexico City, Quintana Roo, and Baja California Sur.

Let’s dive into the data to see exactly how many Americans moved to Mexico in 2022.

Two years ago, we detailed where and why Americans were moving abroad. Today, persistent issues—including historic spikes in the cost of living, chronically unaffordable housing, and major Supreme Court decisions—have fueled a growing perception that the U.S. is becoming less desirable to live in.

But what do the actual numbers show?

In this updated study, we analyze the latest data to see which countries Americans are actually relocating to, where they are searching to move next, and how these global migration trends have shifted in the post-pandemic landscape.

As rising inflation pushes consumer goods out of reach, 44% of Americans are turning to side hustles. While standard gigs dominate the conversation, one lucrative opportunity is flying under the radar: starting a moving labor company.

With high rent forcing relocations, demand for moving help remains strong. Unlike a full-scale operation, a labor-only business is simple to start with low overhead. If you can lift heavy items, you can realistically earn upwards of $100/hr helping people move.

In May 2022, U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high of 8.6%, sending shockwaves through the economy. For anyone relocating, the impact was immediate and historic. Driven by skyrocketing gas prices, pricier trucks, and higher labor costs, the average cost of a move jumped 15% year-over-year. HireAHelper data reveals how these compounding pressures officially made 2022 the most expensive year in history to move.

While headlines warn that climate migration will reshape America over the next 50 to 80 years, significant movement is already happening today. Data estimates show that at least 220,000 Americans relocated due to climate change-related events within the last decade—with more than 75% of those moves occurring just in the last five years.

This is in addition to the 9.9 million Americans forced from their homes by natural disasters like storms, floods, and fires since 2008. Setting aside political debates over disaster origins, let’s look directly at the data on American climate migration in 2022.

Working from home was something many Americans were forced into. This was rightly burdensome for some—mostly those left to juggle childcare, work, and household activities from home. Yet for others, remote work became a positive opportunity.

Some of us got to do some gardening in the middle of the workday, or skip a crowded commute, or completely move out of an overpriced city to live somewhere quaint, green, and most importantly, affordable. But now, 18 months into the pandemic, how many Americans are still working remotely? In this data study we break down changes in remote work patterns in the U.S., look at how rates of teleworking vary by state, metropolitan area and occupation, then examine whether the rise of the delta variant may have had any impact on remote work.

During the late 2020 pandemic, one-in-four moves were COVID-driven, primarily due to health concerns, financial hardships, or family needs.

By 2021, the moving landscape shifted dynamically. Early vaccination surges and dropping case numbers sparked public reopening, yet summer brought rising hospitalizations and threat of a new wave. Simultaneously, companies grappled with remote versus hybrid office policies, while the real estate market surged with record-high home prices and historic sales speeds.

To determine how these factors impacted moving habits, we analyzed over 57,000 moves booked via HireAHelper.com and our partners between January and July 2021.

In fall 2020, over two million students enrolled in college. Despite a 13% drop from 2019, a five-year high of 43% relocated for school. To understand these trends, we analyzed college relocation data to see where students are moving and how many cross state lines. We also ranked top colleges by their ability to attract out-of-state applicants.

Scams cost Americans dearly — the FTC received 2.2 million fraud reports in 2020 alone, totaling $3.3 billion in losses. The moving industry is no exception, with shady movers using hidden fees, bad-faith contracts, and inflated deposits to fleece customers. Here's a look at how prevalent moving scams are, how much they cost Americans, and what you can do about it.

It’s a question at the heart of many debates and countless articles: Is it better to buy (if you can afford it) or to rent (if you can't)? Which is more financially beneficial? Which is actually more affordable, and why?

One way to think about this debate is to take the average home price in each state, then estimate your repayment based on some assumptions (e.g., 20% down payment, 3% interest over 30 years, etc.), then finally, compare that number to average rent prices. But that comparison alone doesn't tell us the true value of renting.What does? We looked at 335 of the biggest cities and metropolitan areas in the United States and broke down how rent levels compare to mortgage rates, how they stack up against typical incomes in each of these areas, and more.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans who retire each year are faced with a choice: stay put and continue living where they are, or take a leap and move somewhere they maybe always wanted to live.

It turns out that an increasing number of retirees in the United States choose the latter. In this piece, we examine how many Americans leave their homes to retire elsewhere, what states and cities they choose for their retirement, and just how likely they are to retire away from home than 20 years ago.

Around 10 million Americans live outside the U.S., with hundreds of thousands leaving each year for reasons ranging from career and education to love, lower costs, better climate, or simply a fresh start. But where are they going? Below are the key trends and top destinations — backed by research and statistics.

Online dating fundamentally changed how we connect with others, and even how we date and fall in love. From Tinder to Bumble, Hinge, and even FarmersOnly.com, it’s easier than ever to find a match almost anywhere in the world.

Yet, while you can connect with someone on the other side of the globe, most people say they are still looking for romance close to home. In our recent survey, HireAHelper uncovers exactly what distances people are (or aren’t) willing to go to find love.

There is nothing that is not being disrupted in some way, shape, or form in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic spreading across North America.

Among those disruptions, one of the most curious dynamics to keep an eye on is the obligation Americans still have for relocating... along with their willingness to hire people to move them.

While lockdowns kept us in one place during the COVID pandemic, many Americans still moved during this global crisis—many, because of it. Looking back over the span of the pandemic thus far, how have so-called "pandemic moves" worked out for those who made them? To find out, HireAHelper spoke to people who moved during the pandemic to get a closer look at the unique obstacles and opportunities that drove their decisions to move.

Retirement in America is being redefined. It’s no longer just about snowbirds and waterfront communities. Today’s retirees are more mobile, more selective, and more strategic about where and how they live than ever before. Using PGM's proprietary database of almost 15 million nationwide adult moves in the last 12 months, we analyzed where Americans aged 65 and older relocated, how far they moved, and what kinds of homes they chose. The result is a clear picture of modern retirement migration, one driven by affordability, comfort, and long-term livability.

Meet the Sandwich Generation — adults who are “sandwiched” between their aging parents and their children by having to financially support and/or care for both.

Why do so many Americans find themselves in this living arrangement? It’s a mixture of both demographic and socio-economic factors. For this study, we surveyed 1,000 members of the Sandwich Generation to find out more about their family situation, the challenges they face, and their feelings about it. We also combined our findings with the U.S. Census Bureau data to estimate the number of people in the Sandwich Generation and how they’re spread across the United States.

Millennials (born 1982–2000) are entering middle age facing unexpected financial strain. Despite being top earners, they carry the second-highest level of household debt. While over half finally own homes, 16% still live with their parents.

Economic challenges peaked recently with historic mortgage rates and the worst home sales market in 28 years. Consequently, millennial mobility has plummeted; the number of moving last year was half of what it was a decade ago. To understand these shifting living situations, this study analyzes US millennial migration trends, highlighting the specific cities and states seeing the highest influx and exodus of this generation.

In a 1991 Seinfeld episode, Jerry joked that moving to Florida at age sixty was "the law." While reflecting a long history of attracting retirees, viewing Florida solely through this lens is reductive. During the 1990s, 4.3 million Americans relocated there, making it the top destination for nine out of ten years.

Today, employment dominates migration; "new job or transfer" drove over 54% of moves to Florida in 2023. Using Census and HireAHelper data, this study analyzes current trends shaping Florida migration, tracking resident demographics, regional shifts, and the evolving reasons driving people to move to or from the state.

A 2019 U.S. Congress report defined "brain drain" as highly educated adults aged 31 to 40 leaving their birth states, finding that the Southeast and Rust Belt were losing talent to the West Coast. However, a recent New York Times analysis revealed a reversal: skyrocketing costs of living are driving college-educated Americans away from coastal hubs like San Francisco and New York toward states like Georgia and North Carolina.

Are educated professionals favoring coastal opportunities or fleeing them for affordability? This 2024 report analyzes these conflicting trends to identify which U.S. cities and states are truly winning and losing the nation's top talent.

It’s officially moving season, AKA the four months of May through August when the majority of moves in the United States take place every year.

HireAHelper's yearly Moving Season Survey asked over 2,000 Americans what their moving plans are for 2024. What did they say? Where are people going? And why? We looked at how many Americans plan on moving this year, what was behind their decision to move or stay put, and how this year’s trends and developments might affect moving patterns in America this year.

The economic divide in America fundamentally alters how, where, and why people relocate. While moving is often viewed through the lens of a fresh start, a deep dive into domestic migration reveals that income heavily dictates mobility. High earners move less frequently but cross greater distances, often motivated by job transfers or purchasing a home. Conversely, lower-income Americans move at much higher rates but typically stay local, driven primarily by rising costs and the search for cheaper housing. This report explores these oppositional migration patterns, highlighting the distinct states and cities gaining and losing residents across different economic classes.

Millennials are no longer the "young movers" of the U.S. housing market. Instead, they are now the country's primary economic drivers, shaping housing demand, labor markets, and population growth across the country.

Using PGM's proprietary database of nearly 15 million nationwide adult moves between January and December 2025, we analyzed where Americans born between 1981 and 1996 relocated, how far they moved, and what types of homes they purchased.

The result is a clear picture of modern millennial migration, one driven by affordability pressures, shifting job markets, and a growing tendency to skip the traditional starter home altogether.

 Each year, our Retirement Study analyzes where and why Americans choose to move during retirement. Using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we track shifts in migration patterns, uncover the top destinations and origins, and explore the evolving motivations behind retiree moves.

Understanding where millennials are moving provides key insights into economic shifts, housing demand, and workforce distribution. This report analyzes millennial migration trends across the U.S., identifying the states gaining and losing millennial movers.

We ranked U.S. cities by population growth, job gains, and income trends to uncover today’s top boomtowns.

Some cities are growing — and not just by a little. To find out where momentum is strongest, we analyzed migration trends, employment shifts, and income changes across dozens of U.S. metros. By looking at how these factors changed between 2018 and 2023, we identified the cities where growth isn't just happening — it's accelerating. The result is a ranking of America’s emerging boomtowns: places attracting new residents, expanding their economies, and seeing incomes rise faster than the national average. While some well-known cities continue to thrive, a growing number of smaller metros are quietly reshaping the national map by offering more affordable housing, stronger job markets, and a better quality of life. Here’s where the next wave of growth is taking shape.

In this report, the moving experts at HireAHelper uncover the hidden health costs behind every relocation, from joint pain and burnout to anxiety, insomnia, and even trauma-level stress. Based on a survey of over 1,000 Americans, we reveal exactly why people find moving so stressful as well as the health effects they’ve experienced along the way.

Everything is bigger in Texas—including its population boom. According to the 2025 Texas Migration Report from HireAHelper, more than 265,000 Americans relocated to the Lone Star State over the past year, averaging an impressive 726 new arrivals every day. Driven primarily by Gen X and millennial professionals from states like California and Florida, this massive migration wave is fueled by Texas' affordable housing, lack of state income tax, and robust job opportunities. Discover the latest data on which Texas metros are growing the fastest and why the state remains America's premier relocation destination.

Colorado’s shifting landscape is undergoing a demographic trade-off. The 2025 Colorado Migration Report from HireAHelper reveals that despite attracting over 102,000 out-of-state newcomers, the Centennial State suffered a net loss of nearly 9,500 residents as outbound migration outpaced inbound moves. Driven primarily by high housing and living costs, middle-income earners and Baby Boomers are leaving—often heading to Texas and Florida. Meanwhile, affluent millennials and Gen X professionals continue to pour into the state, primarily from Texas and California. Read on to see how these economic pressures are reshaping Colorado's major metros and mountain towns.

When it comes to raising a family, the right environment can make a world of difference, which sometimes means making a move. But whether you're relocating for work, a better school district, or for other reasons, there are important factors to consider. To help families make informed decisions that reflect their unique goals and priorities, and dreams, the team at HireAHelper has conducted a comprehensive study of city characteristics that could influence children's health, happiness, and success.

Based on our ten-factor analysis, we’ve provided a list of the best cities to raise a family in the United States, so you can make an informed decision for your own when it comes time to move.

North Carolina’s appeal continues to skyrocket. According to the 2025 North Carolina Migration Report from HireAHelper, the Tar Heel State captured a net population gain of over 47,000 new residents last year, ranking as the 5th most popular destination in the country. Middle-class Gen X and millennial families are flocking to major hubs like Charlotte and Raleigh, leaving high-cost states in search of better career opportunities and cheaper housing. Dive into the complete report to discover the driving forces behind this Southeast migration boom and explore how local metros are evolving amid the growth.

Migration reports are out in full force, including the famous United Van Lines yearly report. But while United handles more moves annually than any other mover network in the country, their numbers are not definitive across the industry board. North American, Atlas and Allied all see slightly – and in some cases, wildly – different results in their migration study results. Not a surprise, because as a Full Service move provider, United handles a somewhat different clientele compared to companies like ABF, U-Haul and PODS – companies whose numbers might look a lot different. Then there's that little thing called the Census. Yep, the state-to-state migration numbers for 2017 are out – and folks, we have new inbound state champions! Here are the results.

A few years ago, only freelance and tech roles allowed for frequent moving. The pandemic changed everything, proving many occupations can be done anywhere, permanently shifting the remote workforce.

Concurrently, the "Great Resignation" saw workers flee hospitality and food services for careers with better pay and work-life balance. These trends sparked an upswing in overall, work-related moves. Unsurprisingly, the top remote jobs belong to software developers.

With Americans prioritizing geographic freedom, HireAHelper compared over 300 occupations to find the best jobs for frequent movers. Our study highlights top remote careers, high-demand on-site jobs nationwide, and the best options for mobile workers who don't have a college degree.

In 2025, Americans didn't stop moving, but how and where they moved shifted in meaningful ways. More people chose to relocate within their own state rather than cross long distances, smaller metros outpaced major cities on a per-capita basis, and economic opportunity mattered more than just lifestyle alone. Together, these patterns point to a year defined less by dramatic relocation and more by deliberate, calculated moves, shaped by affordability, job stability, and long-term financial considerations.

The 2026 HireAHelper Migration Report is our annual deep dive into how, where, and why Americans moved in 2025. Now in its fifth year, the report reveals what made 2025 distinct: a slower overall moving year that still produced intense migration pressure in specific states and metros, particularly across the Southeast and select secondary markets.

In 2024, Americans faced a unique set of challenges that shaped their moving decisions. Rising moving costs continued to strain budgets nationwide, while environmental factors such as wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather played an increasingly prominent role in relocation choices. A total of 25.87 million Americans (that's 7.8% of the population) moved this year, which might seem like an impressively high number, but it's actually in line with the historic lows seen in 2023.

The 2024-25 HireAHelper Migration Report offers a closer look at these trends. By analyzing over 114,000 moves booked through HireAHelper.com, insights from our 2024 customer survey, and the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, the report uncovers the key factors shaping how and why Americans moved this year.