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Texas and Florida Cities Among Top Locations Americans are Moving To
Houston maintained its position as the top moving destination, closely followed by San Antonio, which moved up from its ranking of 9th last year.
May. 07, 2024
For the third year in a row, Houston maintained its position as the top moving destination, closely followed by San Antonio, which moved up from its ranking of 9th last year. Florida gained new representation on this year’s list with the addition of Tampa, which has not ranked since 2020. Since the list’s inception in 2010, Texas and Florida have maintained representation, while Midwestern states have since phased out.
This is according to data from Penske Truck Rental’s annual Top Moving Destinations list, which shows the top 10 cities consumers moved to based on one-way truck rentals in 2023. Alongside the 14th annual list, Penske released the results of a national consumer survey, Settling In: A Consumer Moving Trends Survey, which shows new findings about people’s reasons for moving and the importance of establishing a sense of community in their new places of residence. Notably, 57% of consumers prefer to rent their own moving truck and only 24% said they would rather hire a moving company.
Top 10 Moving Destinations for 2023 (previous year ranking):
- Houston, Texas (1)
- San Antonio, Texas (9)
- Charlotte, N.C. (6)
- Atlanta, Ga. (5)
- Las Vegas, Nev. (2)
- Dallas, Texas (7)
- Orlando, Fla. (3)
- Austin, Texas (10)
- Tampa, Fla. (New! Has not ranked since the 2020 list)
- Jacksonville, Fla. (8)
“It’s intriguing to see the evolution of the top moving destinations and where our customers are headed. Knowing just how hectic moving can be, we prioritize our customers’ needs above all else,” said Kevin Malloy, senior vice president of Penske Truck Rental. “Penske is here to make your moving experience as seamless as possible, offering top-notch rental services and support every step of the way.”
The survey asked consumers to reflect on their decisions to move and how they adapted to their new city to understand how relocating plays a role in feelings of happiness. Respondents appear optimistic about their decision to relocate with 73% indicating that they are happier in their new town compared to their previous place of residence.
Why People are Moving
Proximity to family (34%), lower cost of living (32%) and desire for more space (27%) were the biggest reasons that consumers were compelled to move over the past five years. Employment was a key driver of relocation to the top 10 moving destinations. Respondents from Nevada (40%), North Carolina (37%) and Georgia (39%) indicated that better job opportunities prompted their decisions to move.
Settling In New Cities
The survey found that 32% of consumers who recently moved were most challenged by adjusting to their new neighborhood during their move, but establishing a consistent routine helped them acclimate, according to 72% of respondents. Further, consumers are eager to become active with their new cities, as 88% say that feeling a sense of community where they live is important.
As many consumers plan to move in the summer months, the survey highlights activities that helped people build a sense of community and acclimate to their new cities. The top activities include exploring new restaurants and shops (57%), meeting neighbors (48%), discovering new parks and outdoor spaces (47%) and participating in local events (35%).