People are fleeing these 7 big US cities and flocking to these 7 smaller spots so far this year
Kelsey Neubauer,Alcynna Lloyd,Andy Kiersz
- Some popular big cities are losing residents, US Postal Service change-of-address requests indicate.
- Requests made in 2023 also show that smaller spots outside big cities have tended to gain residents.
Big cities — including Miami, Houston, and Austin, Texas — seem to be out of vogue with movers this year. Smaller spots outside larger urban hubs, meanwhile, are attracting more residents than they're losing.
An Insider analysis of US Postal Service data, which adds up the change-of-address requests from individuals, families, and businesses in each ZIP code filed in 2023 so far, can give a hint to where Americans are moving to and from. Insider combined the ZIP codes the USPS tracked into the number of people who moved in and out of each city.
People tend to leave larger cities and flock toward smaller areas on the outskirts for a few reasons, but one key driver is affordability, Danielle Hale, Realtor.com's chief economist, told Insider.
In cities like Miami and Austin, the flood of people who moved in over the past few years has slowed to trickle — but the influx of newcomers has boosted rents and home prices. Many residents priced out as a result are leaving for cheaper areas nearby, she said.
That's also why cities like Katy, Texas — just outside Houston — and Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas, are seeing more people move in than out, the change-of-address forms indicate.
The rise of remote work has also played a role. People who lived in cities like New York and Los Angeles now have a sense of the number of days a week they need to be at the office in person, Hale said, and feel more comfortable living in a cheaper area farther from a city center — especially if they don't need to commute every day.
"If you can find similar lifestyle amenities in a place that's more affordable," Hale added, "I think that people are open to making the move."
To be sure, this data is not a perfect representation of moving patterns. For one, it takes into account only the first five months of 2023, and businesses are included along with individuals and families. The pool of people it tracks is self-selecting, as it's optional to file a change-of-address form. Many people move over the summer to avoid pulling kids out of school midyear, so end-of-year change-of-address data may shed light on other patterns.
Also, bigger cities are more likely to both lose and gain people because of their larger populations; the USPS doesn't adjust its numbers according to population. Indeed, the US Census Bureau provides more comprehensive annual estimates of population changes across the US, but its figures are not released until much later, about a year after the time it's measuring.
Still, while the data is incomplete and imperfect, it provides a glimpse into where people want to move that's closer to real time.
Read on for the seven cities that saw the most net people move in — the most popular cities to move to — and seven that lost more residents than they gained. Each city is listed with its 2022 population according to census data, its typical home price according to Redfin, and the net number of people moving in or out for the year so far, according to the USPS.
7. Dallas
Texas' third-largest city is home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the prestigious Southern Methodist University.
Population: 1.3 million
Median home-sale price: $412,000
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 5,629
6. Miami
5. Austin, Texas
The Texas capital's business-friendly policies and other attractive policies have enticed companies like Apple and Google to expand their presence in the area and others like Tesla to move their headquarters there.
Population: 974,447
Median home-sale price: $570,000
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 7,175
4. New York
New York is the largest city in the US and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. A hotly debated "New York is dead" narrative persisted throughout the worst months of the pandemic.
Population: 8.3 million
Median home-sale price: $789,500
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 7,592
3. Los Angeles
The largest city in California is known for its booming entertainment industry and celebrity-packed population.
Population: 3.8 million
Median home-sale price: $930,000
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 7,637
2. Chicago
Recognized as the birthplace of modern architecture, Chicago is the third-largest US city.
Population: 2.7 million
Median home-sale price: $350,000
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 7,843
1. Houston
The oil-and-gas hub of Houston is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the US.
Population: 2.3 million
Median home-sale price: $340,000
Net number of people moving out between January and May: 8,369
7. Henderson, Nevada
Just 20 minutes southeast of Las Vegas, Henderson is popular with relocators because it has national parks and natural beauty, as well as several entertainment offerings.
Population: 331,415
Median home-sale price: $430,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,013
6. St. Cloud, Florida
About 30 miles south of downtown Orlando, St. Cloud sits on the southern shore of the scenic East Lake Tohopekaliga and is known for its laid-back atmosphere.
Population: 64,489
Median home-sale price: $385,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,014
5. Green Cove Springs, Florida
The small city, known for its natural sulfur springs, is 30 miles south of Jacksonville.
Population: 10,042
Median home-sale price: $309,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,095
4. Cleveland
One of the biggest spots on this list of places with the most inbound movers, Cleveland has an industrial past, is situated on Lake Erie, and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Population: 361,607
Median home-sale price: $128,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,103
3. Sanford, North Carolina
About 45 miles southwest of Raleigh, Sanford is one of the largest producers of brick and pottery products in the US.
Population: 31,224
Median home-sale price: $320,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,126
2. Northbrook, Illinois
A wealthy suburb of Chicago, Northbrook is home to several large companies, including Allstate and Crate & Barrel.
Population: 34,182
Median home-sale price: $528,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,151
1. Katy, Texas
Named after the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the small Texas city is west of Houston. Previously known for rice farming, Katy is a fast-growing and coveted suburb to move to.
Population: 25,253
Median home-sale price: $365,000
Net number of people moving in between January and May: 1,284
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