The New American Dream: Family and Affordability Reshape the US Map

IRVINE, CA – December 29, 2025 – A profound shift is underway in the American landscape, not of geography, but of priorities. For decades, the cross-country move was primarily a story of economic ambition. Today, a different narrative is emerging, one where proximity to family and the pursuit of an affordable, lower-density lifestyle are increasingly dictating the nation's migration patterns. According to the 49th Annual National Movers Study from United Van Lines, the desire to be closer to family (29%) has edged out a new job or company transfer (26%) as the top reason for relocating interstate in 2025, painting a new picture of the American Dream.

This year's study reveals a complex tapestry of movement, with Oregon surging to become the nation's top inbound destination for the first time, while New Jersey marks its eighth consecutive year as the leading outbound state. Yet, beneath these headline-grabbing rankings lies a deeper story: a nationwide pivot towards smaller cities and towns, driven by a confluence of post-pandemic preferences, remote work flexibility, and a formidable housing affordability crisis.

A Shift in National Priorities

The data signals a significant evolution in the motivations behind an American household's decision to pack up and move. While career opportunities remain a powerful magnet, the growing prominence of family ties and retirement (14%) suggests a rebalancing of personal and professional considerations. This trend is further supported by findings from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which reported that multigenerational housing reached an all-time high of 17% among homebuyers in 2024, a clear indicator of families pooling resources for both financial and caregiving reasons.

"We're seeing a movement that reflects a legacy of COVID-era preferences for lower-density living combined with the very real pressures of housing costs," commented one economist from UCLA. The data shows a clear pattern of migration away from sprawling, expensive metropolitan hubs and into smaller and medium-sized metro areas. This isn't just about escaping high prices; it's a conscious choice for a different quality of life. Indeed, NAR data shows that convenience to a buyer's job has steadily declined as a top neighborhood factor over the past decade, while convenience to friends and family has risen in importance.

This migration is reshaping communities across the country. The top inbound metropolitan statistical area in 2025 was Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, which saw an astonishing 85% of its moves being inbound. Such trends are creating new economic realities for these smaller cities, bringing both opportunity and the challenge of managing rapid growth.

Economic Headwinds and the Remote Work Revolution

Underpinning this cultural shift are powerful economic forces. The dream of homeownership has become a significant source of anxiety for many, with average mortgage rates hovering above 7% in 2024. Real estate market analysts point to a widespread "lock-in effect," where current homeowners with low mortgage rates from previous years are financially disincentivized to sell and move, constricting housing inventory and keeping prices stubbornly high. This affordability crunch is a consistent theme across multiple industry reports.

Allied Van Lines' 2025 migration report noted a 3% year-over-year drop in interstate moves, attributing the decline directly to rising living costs and high mortgage rates pushing people out of expensive states. The Atlas Van Lines study for 2025 echoed this sentiment, identifying affordability constraints as a primary reason for low overall mobility. Even historically powerful inbound states like Florida and Texas are now seeing more balanced migration patterns, a sign that even their allure is being tempered by rising housing costs.

Fueling the ability to act on these new priorities is the continued flexibility of remote and hybrid work. The pandemic-era experiment has solidified into a permanent feature of the labor market for many, untethering millions of workers from specific geographic locations. This newfound freedom allows individuals and families to prioritize lifestyle, affordability, and community over the necessity of a daily commute to a central business district. Research from the Economic Innovation Group confirms that expensive coastal areas experienced the largest migration impacts post-pandemic, while more affordable regions and traditional vacation destinations saw population growth, thanks in large part to the influx of remote workers.

A Tale of Two States: Oregon's Allure and New Jersey's Complex Exodus

The divergent paths of Oregon and New Jersey offer a compelling snapshot of these national trends. Oregon's ascent to the top inbound state, with 65% of its moves being inbound, is a dramatic jump from its No. 8 position in 2024. While the state's natural beauty and quality of life have long been a draw, a significant portion of new arrivals (36%) cited job opportunities, particularly in its growing tech and healthcare sectors. It's worth noting a discrepancy with U.S. Census Bureau data from 2023, which showed a net migration loss for Oregon. This may reflect a very recent surge in the state's popularity, a difference in data collection methodologies, or the dynamic, often volatile nature of migration patterns from year to year.

Meanwhile, New Jersey continues its long-running streak as the nation's top outbound state, with 62.3% of its moves heading elsewhere. The primary drivers for leaving are telling: retirement (25.2%) and moving to be closer to family (25.5%). The state's high property taxes and overall cost of living have long been cited as key factors pushing residents out, particularly those on fixed incomes.

However, the story of New Jersey's migration is not one of simple flight. The same United Van Lines study that highlights its outbound trend also points to "positive momentum from GenZ and younger millennials moving into the state." This has led to the characterization of New Jersey as a "launch state"—a place where young professionals are moving to begin their careers, drawn by its proximity to the major economic hubs of New York City and Philadelphia. This creates a fascinating demographic churn, where the state is simultaneously losing its older, established residents while attracting a new generation of ambitious young workers. This complex, multi-directional flow underscores that modern migration is not a simple one-way street, but a nuanced exchange driven by the distinct and often competing priorities of different generations.