More Americans Are Moving for Affordability and Quality of Life, Not Work

Americans are increasingly packing up and moving not for love or money but for intangibles such as a "clean slate" and a "fresh start."

A survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18-80, who moved within the past three years, concluded that people are relocating less out of necessity and more as a "deliberate step toward positive change," according to the first Moving Mindset study by moving company PODS.

"Moving has always been a part of life, but what's changing is the intention behind it," said Agnes Grondin, director of market research and customer experience. "People are thinking more holistically about where and how they want to live—balancing cost, connection, and lifestyle."

"Moving has become less about chasing the next opportunity and more about finding a place that supports how they want to live day to day."

Making a fresh start

With mortgage rates hovering at 6.3% and home prices at historical highs, it's no surprise that affordability is still the top reason why Americans move to another city, state, or even country.

A whopping 61% of respondents across all generations noted affordability as their main priority when making a move.

"Affordability isn’t just any factor; it's the dominant one," says Grondin.

But nearly as popular a reason was wanting a "fresh start," which was cited by half of respondents. A fresh start tended to mean seeking a "clean slate" (49%), a "new place, new hope" (38%) or "an opportunity for growth and reinvention" (25%).

Some answers about why the respondents moved included wanting "a clean slate, no ends, just new beginnings," and a "new place, new me," as well as "a chance to rewrite my story."

Family therapist Ramiro Castano tells Realtor.com® that when he and his wife recently made the move from Houston, they were seeking better social services and opportunities for their 7-year-old son, who is nonverbal and autistic.

"As we started examining what his life would look like and where he'd go as he became a teenager and older, it got very scary for us to see how limited the options would become," Castano says.

They found the perfect school for him in Colorado and decided to move to nearby Littleton, despite not knowing anyone.

"Our hope is that he is now in a place where he can receive the kind of care he will need, long after my wife and I have passed," Castano says.

For younger people, the rise of remote work means that more have the opportunity to live where they think they might have a fresh start or reinvent themselves, yet still keep their jobs.

"Remote work definitely plays a role here, as well as other factors, such as the rise in equal dual-income households—a better pay for one partner does not make sense if the other partner loses their well-paid job," Grondin says.

"Still, it's only a part of a broader shift we're seeing," she adds. "Our study shows that moving today is less about 'climbing the professional ladder' and more about a personal reset."

Where people are moving

According to the survey, 1 in 4 who switched census regions moved to the South, citing warmer weather as the prime reason, along with a lower cost of living.

Some are even going farther south than the Southern U.S—all the way to Latin America.

Immigration attorney Martin Hecht of MH Legal Hub, who helps Americans relocate to Argentina, tells Realtor.com that most expats come not only for a lower cost of living but a higher quality of life.

"For younger clients, it's often about a new social life," he says. "Argentina makes that easy: The culture is incredibly open, and Argentines tend to welcome foreigners into their circles quickly."

As the survey confirms, he agrees that many Americans are burned out on climbing corporate ladders and are seeking a slower pace and more connection with the land.

"Many people seeking reinvention skip Buenos Aires and move to smaller places in Argentina, drawn to the country's raw, natural energy," he says. "A lot of my clients from the corporate world are interested in ranches, organic farming, landscapes, and want to feel connected to nature."

Financier Alex Barletta, 34, who fled Miami for Buenos Aires in 2025, says he enjoys the calmer vibe that city offers, allowing him to live "a more stress-free life."

Not to mention he was able to buy a two-bedroom unit in a luxury building in a residential neighborhood for $250,000, something he says he never could have afforded in Miami.

Others are eschewing calm suburbia for bustling urban cores, wanting more culture and convenience.

Douglas Elliman agent Janna Raskopf says two of her clients ditched their large suburban home in family-friendly Long Island, NY, to make the move to the Big Apple, craving cultural centers and the theater.

"With their children grown and gone, the house had begun to feel lonely, and they were looking for a setting that offered more energy, connection, and convenience," she tells Realtor.com.

How moving mindsets differ among the generations

The survey found that the various generations tended to have a different mindsets when it came to relocating.

Gen Z, still establishing their careers, is most interested in "opportunity" (41%) and, as the generation that grew up with gig and remote work, they also prioritize "flexibility" (39%).

Millennials, in the midst of their careers and most likely to be starting or growing families, prioritize "stability" (33%) as well as "opportunity" but at a lesser rate (33%) than Gen Z.

Baby boomers, the most likely to be retired or nearing retirement, focus most on "connection" (44%), such as wanting to be closer to loved ones or a support system. Boomers—often called "baby chasers" in development circles—also prioritize relocating to be close to grandchildren.

After decades of hustle as they climbed corporate ladders and took care of young families, boomers are more likely than the other generations to be seeking simplicity (38%) and a focus on "health" (35%).

This can take the shape of downsizing to a luxury, amenity-laden building, or senior or masterplanned community, especially one with plenty of wellness features such as hiking trails, pools, fitness centers, and paddle courts.

"What we're mostly seeing in buyers is older people who want no more maintenance and taking care of their single-family homes," notes Teresa Minnick, a broker with Christie's International Real Estate Group, about the seniors snapping up luxury units in the new Atlantic Club on the Jersey Shore.

"They want all the amenities, and then the beach right outside their door. It's like a country club by the sea."

PODS says its survey proves that many Americans have shifted away from professional pursuits taking priority in relocations toward moves that brings about "ease, well-being, and meaningful relationships."