Texas, North Carolina and Ohio at the Top: Residents Choosing to Stay Put

Texas, North Carolina and Ohio at the Top: Residents Choosing to Stay Put

Which states are residents sticking to the most this year?

A new report from relocation company moveBuddha took a look at 175k searches made using their Moving Cost Calculator in 2024, so far, to find which states are the “stickiest” this year — that is, where the highest proportion of relocating residents are opting for in-state moves.

I noticed you sometimes cover some more fun studies alongside your sports reporting, so thought these findings may be of interest.

Highlights from The Stickiest States of 2024 report:

• Texas is #1 stickiest. Don’t Mess with Texas. The culture here isn’t just loud and proud, but it has staying power. 39% of relocating Texans choose to stay in state, more than any other state. The least stickiest is Alaska. Across America, of all movers planning a move using moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator, 28% plan to remain within their state borders.
• Sunbelt and Midwest states are the stickiest. While these regions may have clear differences, a few things are true: they are affordable, comprised of loyal residents, and have enough room for ample in-state mobility.
• Move-to popularity does not make a sticky state. While Texas and South Carolina may be known for winning moves, states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania aren’t.
• Affordability makes a sticky state. Both affordable cost of living and lower housing costs correlated with stickier states.

Rank	State	% of resident relocations in-state
1	Texas	39%
2	North Carolina	37%
3	Ohio	35%
4	Oklahoma	35%
5	Minnesota	35%
6	Wisconsin	35%
7	Georgia	34%
8	South Carolina	34%
9	Missouri	34%
10	Pennsylvania	33%

Note: moveBuddha’s data specifically reflects searches for Americans planning to hire relocation services, which often involve longer-distance or more complicated moves. This helps explain why there is a higher proportion — 74% — of searches for out-of-state moves, as these individuals are typically planning more significant relocations.

What else can stickiness tell us? According to urban planner Ray Delahanty of CityNerd, areas where residents frequently move within short periods may not only indicate fast growth, as seen in states like Texas and North Carolina, but also reflect regions with strong social mobility. These are places where people are drawn by opportunities, and where there is ample new housing for both new arrivals and existing residents, allowing people to easily move between different areas and improve their living situations.

link to the data

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