Arkansas, Idaho and North Carolina drew the most new arrivals this year, according to an analysis of interstate moves by Atlas Van Lines.
Why it matters: High housing costs are keeping many people in place. But some are still moving, often for lower prices, jobs, climate resilience, or to be closer to family.
State of play: Roughly 2 in 5 people moving into Arkansas landed in Bentonville, home to Walmart's corporate headquarters, per the analysis.
- Other popular states for inbound moves include Hawaii; Washington, D.C.; Tennessee; Washington state and Alabama.
The other side: Louisiana recorded the highest share of outbound moves for the second year in a row, followed by West Virginia and Wyoming.
- Meanwhile, departures eased in high-cost California, Illinois and New York, even as they continued to outnumber arrivals, according to the analysis, which looked at 107,000 domestic moves.
Between the lines: Americans have largely stopped moving — a trend researchers warn could weigh on the economy and reshape communities.
- Many homeowners feel locked into cheaper mortgages. (Right now, moving would require a 73% jump in the median monthly payment, a new Realtor.com analysis finds.)
- Those who do relocate are disproportionately affluent and college-educated, The Atlantic's Yoni Appelbaum noted earlier this year.
What we're hearing: "Looking ahead, we expect slow improvement as [mortgage] rates stabilize, but the 'why' behind moves is shifting" to "more lifestyle and family-based decisions," says Jack Griffin, CEO of Atlas World Group.
What we're watching: More migration data may arrive soon. Another moving company, United Van Lines, releases its own annual movers study at the start of the year.
