In 2021, the United States, as well as countries around the world, saw moving trends stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic continue and expand as the year went on. Since offices closed and went remote, people have gotten more and more used to not being tied to one place or one central office location that they then need to commute to. Instead, they’re now afforded the freedom to move wherever suits them.

Why Did People Move So Much in 2021?

No matter what working situation was in 2020, many people found themselves moving in 2021. 

For some, they chose to take advantage of their remote working situation to relocate themselves and/or their family to a more spacious location, that’s also more economically beneficial, as well as a better fit for them. 

For others, after being laid off during the height of the pandemic, they found themselves either pursuing a different career passion, or moving closer to family or friends once their leases ended in 2021. 

Others moved in 2021 due to a want to be farther away from the densely populated areas of the city living in favor of the more spacious and comfortable areas of the countryside, where they could worry less about contracting COVID-19. 

No matter what their reason for moving in 2021, many people’s thoughts mirrored that of others, and resulted in very interesting trends in moving throughout the year. 

More Space, More Value

A huge factor in America’s moving trends in 2021 had to do with the want of more space, for less money. Without having to commute or worry about staying near an office, a lot of people set out to find housing options in more affordable states, or ones that at least afforded them more indoor and outdoor space in comparison to their past city abodes. 

In fact, in 2021 14-23 million Americans  planned to move or did move in 2021 in search of more space and more bang for their buck after taking remote working opportunities. Many moved from the city into the suburbs surrounding the area, but some took the opportunity to move two hours or more away from their original home. 

In more sparsely populated states, people might experience some form of culture shock, but receive both a better value for their money as well as more space and more peace of mind in regards to the ongoing pandemic. 

Where Did Americans Move in 2021?

In 2021, some of the nation’s more sparsely populated states saw the most growth in population. These states included:

  • Maine
  • Idaho
  • New Mexico

Additionally, this trend also extended to the states people left in search of something new. These four states, which originally were some of the most densely packed and populated states in the nation, saw the ;largest number of people exiting them in 2021. These states include:

  • New York 
  • California
  • Washington, D.C
  • Illinois

With all of these relocations, it’s easy to see why people are paying extra attention to the moving trends of Amercians from 2020 and 2021. Looking to plan a move of your own? Check out Excel Moving & Storage for all the help you’ll need in choosing the right movers for you.

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