RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

More Americans Move for Families and Jobs, Fewer for Housing Reasons

Home News
June 10, 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
1

family_in_new_home(1)While nearly half of Americans move for housing-related reasons (48 percent), the percentage has fallen from its peak of 52.8 percent in 2004.  Both job-related (19.4 percent) and family-related (30.3 percent) reasons have been on the rise over the past 15 years according to a report released recently by the Census Bureau.

Among the 36 million people 1 year and over who moved between 2012 and 2013, 5 percent says the most important reason for moving was to be closer to work or for an easier commute, while another 8 percent cited the desire for cheaper housing. The most common reasons for moving in 2013 were “wanted new or better home/apartment,” “other housing reason” and “other family reason.”

The reasons Americans move have changed over time. In 1999, 3 percent moved to be closer to work or for an easier commute and 6 percent wanted cheaper housing while 21 percent of respondents “wanted new or better home/apartment.” This reason declined to 15 percent in 2013 and was not statistically different from the “other family” reason.

“We asked people to select the reason that contributed most to their decision to move. Picking one reason can be difficult as moves are often motivated by many different, and oftentimes competing, factors,” says the report’s author, David Ihrke, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Journey to Work and Migration Statistics Branch. “For instance, if one’s primary reason for moving is to be closer to work or having an easier commute, they may have to sacrifice other preferences. This could include forgoing cheaper housing options or settling for a different neighborhood. If they mainly want cheaper housing, they may have to deal with a longer commute.”

For people who moved from one county to another, moving because of a job-related reason rose with the distance of the move: Twenty-three percent of moves less than 50 miles and 48 percent of those 500 miles or more. Moving for housing-related reasons showed change in the opposite direction, comprising 42 percent of shorter distance moves and 18 percent of longer distance ones.

Other highlights:

  • Men were more likely than women to move for job-related reasons.
  • Better-educated people were more likely to move for job-related reasons than those with lower levels of education.
  • Married respondents were the least likely to move for family-related reasons.
  • Moves within the same county were typically for housing-related reasons, while inter-county moves and moves from abroad were more for job-related reasons.
  • Several individual reasons, such as “change of climate,” “health reasons” and “natural disaster,” were each cited as the main reason for moving by fewer than 1 percent of householders.

The data are analyzed by a range of demographic characteristics, including age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, educational attainment, marital status, labor force status, type of move and distance moved.

For more information, visit http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com.

ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

Building Beyond the Blueprint: Women Breaking Barriers and Shaping What Comes Next
Agents

Building Beyond the Blueprint: Women Breaking Barriers and Shaping What Comes Next

October 7, 2025
Stellar MLS and Statewide MLS Launch Reciprocal Access Agreement
Industry News

Stellar MLS and Statewide MLS Launch Reciprocal Access Agreement

October 7, 2025
Saving Time, Boosting Engagement
Agents

Saving Time, Boosting Engagement

October 7, 2025
Maine Listings Unveils New Logo and Brand Strategy
Industry News

Maine Listings Unveils New Logo and Brand Strategy

October 7, 2025
Miran
Economy

Fed Governor Stephen Miran Predicts Housing Disinflation Ahead

October 7, 2025
prices
Industry News

Home Prices Reach Five Times Higher Than Median U.S. Income

October 7, 2025
Please login to join discussion
Tip of the Day

Saving Time, Boosting Engagement

CEO Morgan Carey talks about the launch of Real Estate Webmasters’ new tools, Automations Phase 2 and AI call features, within the REW CRM. Read more.

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • Building Beyond the Blueprint: Women Breaking Barriers and Shaping What Comes Next
  • Stellar MLS and Statewide MLS Launch Reciprocal Access Agreement
  • Saving Time, Boosting Engagement

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2025 Newsmakers
    • 2024 Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2025 Power Broker
    • 2024 Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X