Justice
Who Wants to Move vs. Who Ends Up Actually Moving
A new analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that nearly 10 percent of Americans want to move. But those of us who want to change locations and those of us who end up doing it are often not the same.
The Great Recession put a big crimp in the rate at which Americans move, which fell to record lows in its wake. Some economists suggest that declining moving rates are related to post-recession job markets, which are so similar across states that they act as a disincentive to move. Others contend that the housing crisis "locked in place" residents of especially hard hit Rustbelt and Sunbelt areas, who were suddenly unable to sell their homes even if they wanted to.
While we know a lot about who actually moves and where, a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau adds an intriguing new wrinkle, comparing Americans who “desire to move” with those who actually leave their homes.