Where Are People Moving to in 2026? PODS Moving Trends To Watch

Tennessee tied with Florida as the most moved-to states in 2026.

It’s Worth Reading Between the Lines

As mentioned, though North Carolina took home the gold last year as the most moved to state, two of its cities are off the list this year, forcing it to give up the crown. And so, this year, we’ve got a tie between Florida and Tennessee as the most moved to states in 2026. (When it comes to affordability, it looks like it helps when residents have no state income tax.)

In last year’s report, we touted the Tennessee Takeover, but we also highlighted the fact that Florida’s migration numbers were on the decline. This year, both states made a showing with four cities on the top 20 list for most move-ins, but zooming in on the data, we’ve noticed their roads to victory are quite different — and North Carolina may not be in as shabby a shape as it seems.

For example, although North Carolina’s market cities dropped from six to three this year, the state is still having some of the highest migration numbers in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In fact, it’s noted as having the third-highest population increase, with July 2025 numbers showing continuous growth since 2020 at 1.3 percent — though growth varies greatly by county, which is why it may not be reflected in our markets’ data.

The Tar Heel State’s demographer shared with The Daily Tar Heel that they’re seeing an influx of younger new residents relocating for higher education, the military, or first-time jobs, and that the state’s overall lower housing prices and access to nature are big draws. However, there are budget woes in North Carolina stemming from population growth outpacing revenue and public service growth, so only time will tell where this state stands in terms of move-ins.

The Tennessee Takeover May Be Done

Taking a closer look at Tennessee, all four of Tennessee’s 2026 ranking cities also ranked last year — and all but one have dropped down the list (Nashville slid down two slots to 11th, Johnson City went down four slots to 18th, and Chattanooga (a newcomer last year) slid down two slots. Knoxville is the only city that has held its position, coming in at eighth for the last three years. Despite tying for the top move-in state, this overall downfall trend doesn’t look good for Tennessee, and neither does the fact that a Tennessee city debuted on the move-out list, too.

For many, the population boom in Tennessee — particularly the high number of Californians that relocated there — changed the vibe and community of their cities and towns, caused congestion, and has started to raise the cost of living from its appealing affordability. Given what we know about what movers want (and don’t want), we wouldn’t be too surprised if more Volunteer State market cities joined the move-out list next year.

There is some good news, though. Similar to North Carolina, Tennessee has had a 5.8 percent population increase since 2020, with a 1.2 percent increase between July 2024 and July 2025 per the latest U.S. Census Bureau report. However, Zillow reports a marginal 0.1 percent increase in home values for the state overall, though markets like Nashville, Johnson City, and Chattanooga experienced a drop in average housing values.

Florida is a popular place to move to — and from — thanks to a mixed bag of pros and cons that include no state income tax and high housing costs.

Florida: The Comeback Kid (Sort Of)

Florida’s gains this year — doubling the number of cities on the top 20 list and tying with Tennessee as the most-moved-to state — came as somewhat of a surprise. We’d predicted this blazing-hot pandemic market was starting to cool when it went from always having at least six cities on the move-out list to only two last year: Tampa Bay and South Florida.

This year, Ocala and Jacksonville hang on to their positions from last year, Ocala coming in second for the third year in a row, and Jacksonville holding onto 10th. Living in Ocala has likely remained popular because it offers so many sought-after characteristics for movers: No personal income tax, a landlocked location in Florida that’s not as vulnerable during hurricane season, a strong community, and access to swaths of nature, like the 600-acre Ocala National Forest and several natural springs. It’s worth watching, though, as the city’s cost of living slowly creeps up, even if it still comes in at below the national average index.

Meanwhile, Sarasota and Orlando, old favorites that didn’t make the cut in 2025, popped back up on this year’s list in ninth and 16th, respectively. And only South Florida was on the move-out list this year.

But don’t call it a comeback: Florida has recently received a lot of media coverage for its popularity as one of the top states people are leaving, notably from the likes of The Wall Street Journal and Fortune. The gist? The state’s rapid influx of wealthy residents from 2021 to 2023 has upped housing costs, natural disasters have caused insurance rates to skyrocket, and general affordability has all worked to dissolve Florida’s middle-class cohort, inciting an overall net migration loss. Worsening hurricanes and oppressive summer heat don’t exactly scream paradise either. As of April 2026, Zillow also shows the housing market in Florida is down 4.1 percent year-over-year.

Retirement Favorites Win Big

The majority of our top-ranking cities sit within the Sun Belt and Southeast, but it’s always interesting to see which cities are outliers on the list — and what we’re seeing as far as outlier cities is backed up by our inaugural PODS Moving Mindset Study responses.

As mentioned, Florida’s Sarasota came in ninth, making its first debut since 2023 when it appeared as the second-most popular city for move-ins. It may seem like a bit of a shocker considering Sarasota’s cost of living is higher than the national average, and housing prices have shot up since the pandemic (though, according to Zillow, home values fell to $412,100 on average, a whopping 6.9 percent from March 2025 to March 2026).

Returning retiree favorites Dover, DE, and Boise, ID — and we see, after taking a year’s hiatus, the golden desert oasis (and numerous golf courses) of Phoenix made the list once again. All three of these cities draw retirees, have laid-back and welcoming communities, and offer easy access to nature and outdoor activities — checking the box for a majority of movers in our survey, though they are less affordable than some cities on the list. The cost of living in Phoenix and Boise is about 10 percent more than the national average, but is still lower than in most major metropolitan areas. Boise is also seeing a slight rise in home values, while Phoenix home values fell 2.7 percent (though both are still below $500,000 as of April 2026).

For those after affordability, Dover has excellent tax rates (fifth-lowest in the country), a cost of living just below the national average, and above-average healthcare (according to our PODS Moving Mindset Study data, this is a major consideration for the Boomer generation). At the moment, Dover’s housing market is on the up with average home prices sitting at $341,500, an increase of 1.5 percent over the prior year. It’s also just a hop, skip, and jump to larger cities like Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Grand Rapids is the only Midwest city on our list of top 20 move-in cities for 2026.

20 Top Cities and Regions People Are Leaving in 2026

Less than a third of movers (28 percent) are moving for a job opportunity — which may be due to increasing job market anxieties.

Fear About the Job Market

Our survey also revealed that less than a third of movers (28 percent) are moving for a job opportunity. This is likely due to increasing job market anxieties. In fact, according to Fortune, less than a quarter of workers feel confident in the stability of their jobs. This is likely to affect moves to cities with huge tech sectors (such as Austin, a previously popular move-to city, which didn’t even make the list this year) or in other industries where layoffs have been steadily occurring.

Whether it’s tagged as restructuring, a return-to-office mandate, or corporate budget cuts, job cuts have been brutal. Last year marked the highest number of layoffs since 2020, leaving people in a lurch and on the edge of their office chairs as economic uncertainty and AI adoption grow. At the same time, hiring has reached its lowest point in 15 years, according to a report from Challenger, Gray and Christmas.

The University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers reported its lowest consumer sentiment rating since the survey's inception over 70 years ago. So, it’s no surprise people will be less likely to buy and more likely to sell under these circumstances. The proof of the economic strain and social factors affecting moving trends can already be seen in the pudding — or should we say rising number of housing listings — and subsequent lower prices.

Motivated Sellers and Thoughtful Buyers

As it stands right now, there are more sellers than buyers in the market. Prospective buyers are likely still seeing some inflated home prices coupled with rising mortgage rates and wondering if it’s the right move to buy into a pricey home with a higher mortgage rate than they already have.

Normally, we’d call high inventory and lowering prices a buyer’s market, but considering the current uncertainty in the economic market, possible disruption of supply chains, and rise in fuel prices, we’re not so quick to make that call.

Our prediction? We’ll see more motivated sellers and more thoughtful buyers as economics begin to play a larger role in affordability and purchasing power. Investors are likely to snatch up well-priced properties, while everyday buyers will give these large purchases more thought, weighing up their risk versus reward. As a result, moving may slow, and, as our Moving Mindset Study already shows, we’re likely to see young professionals moving to areas of stability and affordability, while retirees seek out more health-focused locales with outdoor access and tax breaks, regardless of the job market prospects.

Whether you decide to relocate locally or across the country, you can count on PODS to make your move flexible.

While we can’t predict how things will shake out with the economy, job market, or AI, one thing we’re sure of is that you can always count on PODS to help facilitate your fresh start. You can even get to work before you move with helpful moving tips and hacks on the PODS Blog. Once you’re ready, have a convenient portable moving container delivered right to your front door. Need packing and loading assistance? No problem, PODS can refer you to local packing and loading assistance. Find a size and schedule that works with your specific move, and take your time getting there with the first month of storage built into the cost of every move.

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.