Amid rising home prices, shifting work patterns, and growing concerns over climate change, Americans are continuing to move in large numbers, but their destinations are changing dramatically. According to the 2025 Pods Moving Trends Report, which analysed long-distance moves between January 2024 and March 2025, the Southeast has emerged as the top destination for movers, while coastal cities in California, New York, and even Florida are seeing more people move out than in.
The report suggests that many Americans are turning away from traditional “megacities” and instead choosing smaller cities and towns that offer a lower cost of living, greater access to the outdoors, and vibrant local communities. These new preferred destinations tend to provide a more balanced lifestyle, especially as remote and hybrid work continue to allow greater geographic flexibility. As a result, cities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have seen significant increases in incoming residents.
The region’s appeal lies not only in its affordability, but also in its natural beauty and relative insulation from the high stress and expense of larger urban centers. According to Pods, smaller metro areas such as Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Ocala, Raleigh, and Greenville-Spartanburg have become particularly attractive. In many of these places, the combination of job growth, reasonable housing prices, and lifestyle perks has created an appealing alternative to traditional urban powerhouses.
Why are people moving out of cities in the US?
At the same time, some of the country’s largest and most iconic cities are seeing accelerating population losses. California remains the epicenter of this outward migration, with Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego leading the move-out trends. Surprisingly, parts of Florida, once considered a prime destination for domestic migrants, are now also appearing on the move-out list. Miami and the surrounding South Florida region, as well as Tampa Bay, have joined the ranks of cities seeing net population declines. This marks a notable shift from previous years, when Florida was one of the fastest-growing states in the country.
Rising housing costs, congestion, and increasing environmental risks such as hurricanes and flooding appear to be influencing people’s decisions to leave parts of Florida. The inclusion of Tampa Bay in the move-out list for the first time may be an early indicator of a cooling trend in the state’s growth, especially as insurance premiums and living expenses continue to climb. As Americans seek more sustainable, affordable, and balanced ways of living, they are gravitating toward regions that offer flexibility and livability without the burdens of high-cost urban centers.