Migration Patterns in the US: Understanding Shifts and Trends

To help understand migration patterns in the US, we can look at migration in general and how it has occurred historically in the country. We can use current data from sources like the US Census Bureau to draw conclusions about the reasons for migration and make predictions about future migration patterns.

Quick Facts About Population Migration in the US

According to the 2024 study of migration patterns between regions in the US:

• The Northeast had the most emigrants.
• The Northeast also had the most people who didn’t move at all.
• The South gained the most migrants, first from the West, then from the Northeast, and then from the Midwest.
• The South had the most people moving within the same region, 11% of its population. The South also has the largest population of the regions, with around 127 million people.
• More than 2 fifths of foreign migrants moved to the South.

Current Migration Trends in the US

According to migration data, there was an increase in people moving across state lines in 2021 compared to 2019. Many of these migrants moved from highly populated states to neighboring states, which were frequently similarly populated.

California, Florida, and Texas, for example, experienced some of the most notable state-to-state migration. These migrants tended to move to other highly populated states or those that were neighbors.

The US Census Bureau data shows that almost 7.9 million people in the US changed states in 2021. This is up from around 7.4 million in 2019.

The Census Bureau data demonstrates that this kind of migration accounted for 18.8% of all people who moved in 2021. This percentage was 16.7% in 2019. Thus, around 1 in 5 people who moved in 2021 did so to an entirely new state.

What are the possible reasons for this migration pattern?

The increase in state-to-state migration noted by the Census Bureau correlates with the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19, which enforced social restrictions and increased the adoption of remote work, was particularly influential on geographic mobility.

Types of Migrants

To understand migration patterns, it’s helpful to make sure we’re familiar with the different types of migrants.

Migrants can be described as in-movers and out-movers. Respectively, these terms refer to people moving into a state from elsewhere or people moving out of a state. They both fall into the category of domestic migration, also known as internal migration, which is human migration within a country. This is the most common kind of migration in the US and elsewhere.

Cross-border migrants tend to be moving from rural to urban areas and they typically do so for economic or political reasons.

Domestic migration tends to be for education, economic improvement, or due to disturbance, such as war or a natural disaster.

In the US, however, such migration patterns don’t point to an economic motivation, at least not in terms of higher earning potential.

Major Migration Eras in the United States

Major migration eras in the US include:

• Native Americans
• Western and Northern European Immigrants/African Slaves (16th to 19th century)
• Southern and Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean Immigrants (19th and 20th century)
• Latin American and Asian immigrants (post World War II)

It has been noted that immigration from the Latin American community and Asia has been increasing since 1965, following President Lyndon Johnson’s easing of immigrant restrictions. Their influx is making a significant contribution to US population growth.

In 2013, 1.2 million migrants moved to the US, with the vast majority, 147,000 people, coming from China. In addition, 129,000 people moved from India, and 125,000 migrated from Mexico. South Koreans and Filipinos are also contributing to the increasing diversity of the US.

One of the reasons that the Asian community is increasing its presence in the US is its tendency toward high incomes and education.

US Migration Data and Migration to Neighboring States

A study on post-move income showed that only 1% of movers in the study increased their income. Still, this doesn’t exclude the possibility that people achieved reduced living costs, better retirement prospects, and other financially motivating factors.

In the US, in 2021, where in-movers made up about 20% of total state movers, these movers were spread throughout the US. Out-movers, however, were particularly concentrated in the West and Northeast, where states like California and New York experienced significant population outflows.

With so many people moving within states or crossing borders to live in entirely new states, it’s no wonder individuals rely on Nuwber‘s comprehensive database of US citizens to locate, verify, and communicate with their important contacts.

State-to-state migration patterns vary from state to state. As such, between 2021 and 2022, only 11.1% of those relocating chose California as their destination, while a massive 44.3% of the District of Columbia’s total new residents were people moving into the state, mostly from neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia.

Domestic Migration

On the whole, domestic migration is at an all-time low. People moving within their county hasn’t been lower since 1947, with the COVID pandemic having a significant impact on people’s ability to travel.

While long-distance moves to other counties and states have increased since the government lifted related restrictions, migration within the US is significantly lower than following World War II.

In the 1940s to the 1960s, about 1 in 5 Americans moved per year. One of the reasons for this is that the population was younger and more likely to rent homes than buy them. Another reason for this migration trend is that there were more single-earner households, which meant it was easier for families to move if the earner found work elsewhere.

Over time, however, there was a shift in how many older people made up the US population. Changing trends in home ownership, households with two breadwinners, and changes in labor markets all converged to reduce migration rates from about 17% in the 1980s to as low as 11 or 12% during the recession and housing crash of 2007 to 2009, and then onto 8.4% during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reasons for Migration in the US

The reasons for migration that we can extrapolate from Census Bureau data fall into the following categories:

• Family reasons
• Housing-related moves
• Employment opportunities
• Other

This is useful because we can see that moves within a county for housing-related reasons beat moves for family-related reasons between 2017 and 2022. Trailing behind all of these is employment reasons, especially for those wishing to move to reduce their commute.

Having said that, housing-related moves saw the greatest decline of all categories, especially between 2020 and 2022, when survey respondents expressed their need for cheaper, better, or larger accommodation.

The decline in overall migration is largely attributable to young adults and the children of young adults, despite young adults’ propensity for new homes and careers. Young millennials bore the worst of the Great Recession, which impacted their ability to start families, buy homes, and seek job opportunities in new places.

While inbound destinations haven’t changed all that much recently, outbound moves show some differences.

2023 US Migration Patterns

According to North American Moving Services, the top inbound states in 2023 were:

• South Carolina 67%, particularly Charleston
• Tennessee 64%, particularly Nashville
• North Carolina 64%, particularly Raleigh
• Arizona 55%, particularly Tucson
• Florida 51%, particularly Miami

In 2023, the states with the most people leaving, however, were:

• Illinois 62%
• California 62%
• Pennsylvania 57%
• Minnesota 56%
• Washington 55%

This shows that the southern states were the top destinations for people moving, with Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina being consistently attractive to movers. The increasing moves to the South could reflect the greater freedom offered by hybrid and remote work opportunities.

According to the Moving Migration Report, Illinois is in the top spot for most people leaving a state, for the fifth consecutive year. California is a very close second. Both California and New Jersey have been among the top states for people leaving for new states.

One of the reasons for this is that, alongside New York, California is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. More and more people are moving away from such expensive states and cities to seek more affordable housing and a better quality of life.

Long-term renting is cheaper than home ownership in almost half of the US’s 97 major cities, even with rental prices climbing at a rate of 3.23% per year.

Income tax is also making its mark on migration rates in US cities. There is a distinct correlation between higher income tax rates and increased emigration.

Again, we can look at California as an example—the state has some of the US’s highest tax rates. With high taxes on top of high property costs, it’s no surprise that California residents are looking to live elsewhere.

The Top Motivation for Migrating in the US

The primary concern driving migration rates within the United States is improving quality of life. This is the top concern for families and workers in the US. The search for more affordable housing and cheaper communities saw an increase toward the end of 2020 and contributed to a shift in migration rates in 2023.

FAQ

What are the 5 reasons for internal migration?

People migrate due to:

• environmental reasons
• political reasons
• economic reasons
• demographic reasons
• cultural reasons

How much of the US population are migrants?

More than 46 million people in the US are foreign-born. That means that almost 14% of the total population of the US are migrants.

Why has migration to the Southern US increased in recent years?

Migration to the Southern US has increased due to several factors, including more affordable housing, lower taxes, and the rise of remote work, which allows people to live farther from traditional economic hubs. The South’s warmer climate and lower cost of living have also made it an attractive destination for retirees and young professionals alike.

What impact has remote work had on US migration patterns?

Remote work has significantly influenced US migration patterns, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have moved away from densely populated urban areas to more affordable or desirable locations, such as smaller cities or suburban areas, where they can maintain a higher quality of life while working remotely. This shift has led to increased migration to states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

What is the difference between immigrants and migrants?

A migrant is someone who moves from place to place, typically for economic reasons. The use of the word immigrant, however, implies that the individual made a conscious decision to move to a foreign state or country to become a permanent resident or citizen.

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