Mobility in America Part 2 | What Motivates People to Move | Reasons to Move: Housing
September 29,
2017 by Jane Chero in General 
With Mobility in America at an all-time historical low and only 11.2 percent of people moving from 2015 to 2016, what drives the current movers and leads them to change residence? This is the final factoid in series of four factoids that explores the “why” people have moved since 2000 and takes note of both the growing and declining trends.
After detailing the other major reasons for moving, Family and Jobs, this factoid centers around Housing. Continuing the historical trend, the strongest reason for a household move for any reason is simply the desire to upgrade to a nicer apartment or home. These movers represented 17.4 percent of the total in 2015/2016, up from 14.8 percent of movers between 2009 and 2010.
After a slowdown during the Great Recession, the desire for renters to own their own homes is trending up. Bottoming out at 4.6 percent of movers from 2009 to 2010, changing residence in order to stop renting and purchase a home grew to 5.9 percent of movers from 2015 to 2016. Other housing-related reasons for moves 2015 to 2016 included wanting cheaper housing (8.2 percent of movers) and a desire for a less crime ridden neighborhood (3.1 percent).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement