2026 Moving Trends Report: Where are Americans looking to move right now?

(Update: April 7, 2026)

After a brief fall, mortgage rates are right back up and affordability concerns are locking many in place, despite the current “buyers market”.

Yet, there are still those who are pulling the relocation trigger, or hoping to. They’re aiming for buyer-friendly states (with jobs) and suburban enclaves where a mortgage won’t break the bank.

We examined 78,000 searches made in the first three months of 2026, using moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator to uncover the moving trends shaping 2026, so far.

Here’s what we found.

Table of Contents:

I. Which states are moves headed to in 2026?
II. Which are 2026’s least popular states to move to?
III. Which cities are most desirable in 2026?
Methodology & Sources

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I. Moving Trends by State: 2026’s most popular states

Nationwide, which states are attracting interest from prospective movers at the highest rates in 2026?

We analyzed moveBuddha search data and compared the rate of searches for moves into a state vs. out of a state to uncover 2026’s most popular states to move to this year, so far.

The most popular state in early 2026 is an old favorite, Idaho

Idaho was a 2020 move-to darling, and it’s back in the spotlight. Since its high of 320 searches in for every 100 out 6 years ago — the state has taken a backseat to the headliners. It’s not that move-ins stopped, in fact the state has maintained positive inflow and sustained a steady rise of interest year after year.

And the proof is in the pudding. New U.S. Census data shows that 80% of Idaho counties grew their populations in 2025 and Idaho was among the top ranked inbound states of 2025 with a survey from United Van Lines showing family as the #1 driver.

One reason may be increasing Californian exits. A California Policy Lab analysis found that in the last five years net moves from California to Idaho increased over the last five years and that for each Idahoan that moves to the Golden State, it receives more than two in return. moveBuddha data backs that inflow story; of searches made early in 2026, 24% of moves to Idaho are from California. Additional analysis finds that housing costs are a driving factor.

Click the year “button” below to see the year-to-year change in moving trends:

Sunbelt states are still relocation darlings, even if #2 South Carolina (2.01) has dropped from the top spot this quarter. Neighboring states #5 North Carolina (1.63) and #7 Tennessee (1.46) also consistently rake in significantly more searches for moves in vs. out.

Here are the most popular states that people are moving to in 2026, so far:

In which states is moving demand rising in 2026?

Only 19 of 50 states gained ground year-over-year in net inbound move searches.

The Mountain West is making a comeback, home to the top 2 states with the largest increases in move in-to-out ratios: Montana (+42%) and Idaho (+26%). Arizona and New Mexico also land in the top five.

Together, these states signal a broadening of demand beyond the South’s perennial magnets, as movers look for affordability and overlooked alternatives.

The states with the highest net volume of searches for moves in: Florida #1

When it comes to total net inbound volume, though, the big states still dominate, but who’s winning?

The 5 states with the highest net volume of searches for moves in: Florida leads with 26% of all net inbound searches, followed by North Carolina (16.2%), Texas (13.1%), South Carolina (10.1%), and Arizona (6.9%).

Together, these 5 states account for nearly 70% of all net inbound moving demand.

II. 2026’s least popular states to move to

The bottom 10 is dominated by the Northeast. For outbound moves, densely populated Northeastern states dominate the least popular destinations, with many more people looking to leave than relocate there. 

Least popular states of 2026

Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania all rank among the least popular states for inbound moves in 2026.

California is still there but no longer is it of note for being the top exodus state, instead it’s now the biggest non-Northeastern exception.

In addition to being densely populated, they face affordability challenges in an America struggling with persistent inflation and pay that hasn’t kept up. Particularly affected are states like New Jersey and Connecticut, which have some of the highest property taxes, deal with exorbitant real estate and rent prices, and increasingly see corporate headquarters leave the state, taking jobs with them.

III. Which cities are especially popular to move to in 2026?

Movers are still favoring Sunbelt cities in 2026. Six of the top ten cities are in the Carolinas and Florida, with the rest spread across the Northwest, New England, and the Rockies.

At the top is #1 Myrtle Beach, SC, which draws 2.41 inbound moves for every 1 outbound.

Top cities to move to in 2026

Here are the top cities people are moving to in 2026:

Myrtle Beach, SC, is #1 for drawing in way more moves in than out so far in early 2026.

Movers continue to flock to smaller cities where their daily lives are even more human-sized.

It’s a trend that we’ve seen from recent years, a steady interest in mid-sized cities and smaller metropolitan areas that offer a balance of economic opportunities and quality of life.

Nearly half of this year’s top inbound cities are familiar retirement-friendly destinations. Myrtle Beach, St. Augustine, Ocala, Kissimmee, The Villages, and Wilmington all reflect that ongoing demand for places shaped by warm weather, hospitality, and accessible living.

Bellingham, Portland, Fort Collins, and Boulder, reflect a different story: they are all cities with strong local culture, outdoor access, and a livable pace that feels more sustainable than larger urban centers.

Whether moving to retiree-friendly coastal markets or culture-rich hubs in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest, 88% of U.S. -based respondents want to save money if they move this year (2026 moving survey). And these places are likely where housing is cheaper, bills are lower and day-to-day life is less expensive than wherever they’re leaving.

Exit cities of 2026

2026’s outflow map spreads across the nation.

 Sure, this year’s top two exit cities are in California, but the rest range from the Mid-Atlantic to the Midwest, the Northeast and even the South.

At the top of the outbound list sits Bakersfield, CA (0.38 move in-to-out ratio), followed closely by Riverside, CA (0.42).

In the Mid-Atlantic cities like Virginia’s Arlington and Norfolk as well as Maryland’s Baltimore are seeing high outbound interest. In the Northeast it’s New Haven, CT. Even a Southern city shows up: Fayetteville, NC.

These cities are struggling to retain residents despite 7 of the 10 offering home costs on average under $400,000, signaling that affordability alone no longer guarantees an inflow.

Recent WARN activity (Q1 2026) adds another layer to the outflow picture, though in several cases the available data reflects broader county or statewide regions rather than the city alone.

Note: Data unavailable for Fargo, St. Louis, and Fayetteville. 

In Bakersfield and Riverside the correlation is strongest. Layoffs are likely not the whole story, but the pattern suggests that job market stress may be a contributing factor. Overall, the cities losing people tend to see limited growth or fading opportunity.

2026’s Trending Moving Destinations: Americans Choose

Despite rising housing costs and economic uncertainty, Americans haven’t stopped wanting to move. But their moves are more calculated, shaped by affordability, job stability, lifestyle choices and a growing willingness to consider places beyond the usual favorites.

Even still, America’s dream move to state is still Florida drawing 26% of all net inbound searches because it offers something rare right now: no state income tax, warm weather, and housing markets across the state that still present a viable path to ownership for middle-income buyers.

Idaho and the broader Mountain West are climbing fast because they offer the same affordability-and-outdoors combination that the Sun Belt has long sold, but with less competition and lower price tags than those markets now carry.

While retirement-friendly destinations like Myrtle Beach, St. Augustine, and The Villages keep winning because for people on a fixed income or winding down their careers, the value equation (low costs, warm climate, established hospitality infrastructure) is simply hard to beat anywhere else in the country.

Methodology & Sources

We use moveBuddha proprietary data collected from 2020 through March 27, 2026 to analyze move trends. The data comes directly from the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator.

In-to-out ratio: We rely primarily on the in-to-out ratio equation in our analysis to see which cities are earning more residents by searches for moves in than losing them via searches for moves out: [Number of queries for moves in] ÷ [Number of queries for moves out] = [in-to-out ratio].

Ryan Carrigan

Ryan Carrigan is the co-founder of moveBuddha and a leading voice in the moving industry, helping hundreds of thousands of Americans make smarter, safer relocation decisions each year. With more than a decade of experience analyzing moving companies, pricing trends, and industry regulations, Ryan brings hands-on industry knowledge and data-driven insight to every guide and review. His research has been featured in Forbes, Consumer Reports, The New York Times, and NBC News.