Historical Moving Trends

Historical Mover Rate Percentage of U.S. Population by Decade

Consistent annual mover rate statistics (percentage of population age 1+ changing residence in a given year) began with the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey in 1948 (data for 1947-1948 period). Earlier data exists for multi-year (e.g., 5-year) migration from decennial censuses starting in 1940, and indirect estimates for interstate migration back to 1850, but no reliable nationwide annual series predates 1948.

Some sources suggest higher mobility in the early 1900s (roughly one-third annually), but this appears overstated or anecdotal; scholarly analyses indicate interstate migration rates declined from the mid-1800s to around 1900 before rising.

The annual mover rate has slowly but steadily declined since the late 1940s due to a variety of factors:

Projections for 2026-2027: Long-term trends point to stability or slight further decline (10-11%), driven by demographics and housing affordability. A strongly sparking economy could boost it modestly (e.g., to 12%) via job-driven moves, but the decades-long downward pattern is expected to persist.