PODS 2025 Summer Moving Trends Reveal Where People Are Moving — and Leaving

Why do a summer-only moving trends report if we already have a comprehensive 2025 moving trends report? Well, when we looked at the data, we   saw that where people are moving during the summer varied slightly (and interestingly) from those in the yearly rankings. Summer is peak moving season — when the bulk of all U.S. moves take place — so what makes the data different? 

Our summer moving trends compiled PODS’ moving data between May and August 2025, paying close attention to the cities, states, and regions where people are moving to and where people are moving from. We then ranked the top 20 most moved-into and moved-out of cities, analyzed the data for trends, and compared it to our findings during the same period in summer 2024.

Big Picture: 2025 Summer Moving Takeaways & 2026 Predictions

Q: What is the most popular summer moving state?
A: Our summer moving data shows Florida as one of the top states people are moving to during the summer months — who can say no to nonexistent personal income tax, lower costs of living than other coastal states, and tax breaks for retirees? Six of the 20 top-moved-to cities are in Florida, mostly concentrated in the central region of the state.

Q: Where are people moving out of in summer?
A: During the 2025 summer moving season, we saw that three out of the top five move-out cities were located in Northeastern states (Boston, Massachusetts, along with Long Island, and Hudson Valley, New York), while one of California’s coastal cities (Los Angeles) held its steadfast grip on the No. 1 spot. The nation’s capital also joined the ranks at No. 3. The biggest thing all these cities have in common? High costs of living and shrinking spaces to call home.

Q: Is summer a good time to move?
A: Yes, but it’s also the most competitive. Summer is peak moving season — this is when the sun is out, road conditions are most amenable, the kids are out of school, and when a good chunk of college-goers are setting up for the start of the semester.  

Q: What is the cheapest month to move?
A: In general, January and February are the cheapest months to move — and the least popular months for moving. Fewer people move during these two months because of factors ranging from bad weather and shorter days to kids being in school and the close proximity to long winter breaks. Fewer moves mean fewer bookings, and mover prices are often markedly lower.

2026 Predictions

From catastrophic weather events in the Carolinas to the increasing populations in mid-sized cities across the U.S. (we're looking at you, Sarasota), there are a few tells you’ll notice in these moving trends.

Midterm election results, in particular, are a thing to be on the lookout for. If you zoom in on the cities that ranked for the 2025 Summer Moving Season, you'll notice that a lot of them were in hot spot election areas. The biggest trend you’ll notice, though? The most moved-from cities are larger metro areas like Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, DC, and Chicago, to name a few. All of these cities come with costs of living higher than the national average, and smaller average apartment sizes. A quick pan between the No. 1 moved-from and moved-to cities on our lists highlights a broader trend among the ranks. In Los Angeles, the average rent is $2,775 for 810 square feet, while in Sarasota, the average rent is $2,025 for 981 square feet.

In summer 2025, central Florida had the biggest pull from coast to coast, with two of its cities in the leading spots on our list — Sarasota (pictured) and Ocala.

Most Moved-To Cities: Summer 2025 vs. 2024

Seventy-five percent of our top 20 moved-to cities during the summer made reappearances from the 2024 season. All new cities to make the rank this year are still located within the Sunbelt, telling us that these sunny states along the southern edge of the country are still hot players in the moving market. And, every city on this summer trends list clocks in as mid-sized or smaller, continuing what we’ve seen with people seeking more space, less congestion, and lower costs of living where they live.  

People are also still overwhelmingly relocating to Florida. In summer 2025, central Florida had the biggest pull from coast to coast, with two of its cities in the leading spots on our list, thanks to the number of moves to Sarasota and Ocala — one of the best places to retire in Florida. We also had three top-ranking Florida cities return from last year (Jacksonville, Melbourne, and Tampa Bay), while Orlando is a new addition. 

Other cities that didn’t make the cut last summer but appear in the top 20 this summer: Houston (12th), Chattanooga (15th), Las Vegas (18th), and San Antonio (19th). They booted out the previously-ranked southern belles of Atlanta, Huntsville, Asheville, Charleston, and Columbia. 

Even after losing three cities, the Carolinas come in a close second for most cities on the list, though their positions have shifted slightly since 2024: Myrtle Beach, SC/Wilmington, NC (down two spots to 3rd), Raleigh (back in 4th), Charlotte (up one to 6th), Greenville-Spartanburg (down one to 7th), and Greensboro (falling six spots to 20th). Seeing as these are all college towns, it’s likely that the higher numbers of summer moves can be attributed to students moving before the start of the semester. 

Here’s a look at the full top 20 list. 

Cities in the southern states of Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and the Carolinas make up 85 percent of this year’s list of most moved-to cities.

Mid-Sized Cities in the South Keep Their Big Draws

Cities in the southern states of Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and the Carolinas make up 85 percent of the list, including four of the five newcomer cities that did not rank in summer moving destinations last year. Considering much of the South is notoriously situated in natural disaster zones prone to severe weather like hurricanes and flash flooding, it’s a curious find.

So, why move somewhere so risky? The short answer: Less money and more space. The most popular states to move to on the list have low or nonexistent personal income tax, lower overall costs of living, and tax breaks for retirees or businesses. However, the majority of our highest-ranking cities have a midline cost of living, according to a recent study by SmartAsset. Interestingly, many of the southern states were also shown to sport residents with the lowest amount of debt in the country.

The vast majority of people moving to the South are relocating from big cities in northeastern states where space is limited, costs are high, and winters are cold. Ranking mid-sized cities offer more space for the dollar and a better quality of life and weather, all without sacrificing amenities or culture.

Greater Sunbelt Region Offers Growing Opportunities

All but one of the states that ranked in our top 20 summer moving trends list sit within the Sunbelt. (The outlier city? Boise, a perennial favorite among retirees and outdoor enthusiasts.) Like the top-ranking cities and states in the South (which are all Sunbelt states), Sunbelt states are known for having lower costs of living, growing housing and job opportunities, and warmer winters.

A 2025 report from the George Bush Presidential Center notes how Sunbelt states have been implementing and enacting pro-growth policies for decades, making them increasingly attractive for residents fleeing major metros like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where opportunities have all but ground to a halt. Over the next decade, it’s been predicted that the Sunbelt states will see more than a sixfold population increase compared to non-Sunbelt states

Los Angeles (pictured), the San Francisco area, and San Diego all made this year’s list of most moved-from cities.

Most Moved-From Cities: Summer 2025 vs. 2024

Forty percent of the highest moved-out-of-states on this year’s summer trends list are in the Northeast. Cities within New York and New Jersey account for 25 percent of the list. The appearance of three New Jersey cities (two new and not on last year’s summer or annual lists) may signal a stronger future Garden State move-out trend. Other ranking move-out cities in the Northeast are Boston, Hartford, and Philadelphia.

California’s big metros of Los Angeles, the San Francisco area, and San Diego all made the list, along with mid-sized cities Stockton-Modesto and Bakersfield (a new appearance), making California the top state for move-outs in summer 2025. Last year’s lowest-ranking cities of Santa Barbara, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Syracuse, and Sacramento failed to reappear, making room for Baltimore, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, and Washington, DC to make their debut. Outlier returnees were Chicago, Seattle, Denver, and South Florida (Miami area).

The common denominator between the majority of this year’s trending summer move-out cities is that they’re either large metro areas or are recent top-ranking move-in cities that have likely become oversaturated and seen a rise in cost of living and a downturn in opportunity. We’re likely seeing the continued fallout of corporations relocating out of San Francisco, the NYC area, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and the further migration of residents from expensive, overcrowded cities.  

Here’s the full list of the top 20 move-out cities for summer 2025.

Movers also relocate to nonmetro areas adjacent to bigger cities, such as Erie (pictured) — a fast-growing suburb of Denver, Colorado.

Non-Metro Cities Are Some of the Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.

People have been moving out of metro cities in droves for decades. However, it accelerated during the pandemic in response to work-from-home mandates, when citygoers could no longer take advantage of their big-city amenities, and space and access to the outdoors were the most prized assets. By July 2024, nonmetro net migration rates reached their highest numbers since 1997, and nonmetro population numbers increased by 974,379 people.

During this time, the top two move-out states — California and New York — began to hemorrhage residents migrating south and into nearby nonmetro areas in search of lower population density, lower costs of living, and more favorable tax laws. IRS data shows big earners have been high-tailing it to states with lower personal, business, and property taxes, often settling in nonmetro areas within Sunbelt states.

Movers also relocate to nonmetro areas adjacent to bigger cities. As the migration continues, America’s mid-sized and smaller city populations are quickly growing in size and opportunity, attracting more people and businesses. Now, in 2025, we are seeing these areas continuing to emerge as some of the fastest-growing cities and up-and-coming nonmetro areas in the country.

California Still Leads for West Coast Moves

Southern and Northern California are all but permanent fixtures at the top of our move-out lists. People leaving California is nothing new. For nearly half a decade, Los Angeles has held the number one spot for most move-outs — annually and during the peak summer season.

In total, 25 percent of this year’s top move-out cities are located in California. The Golden State bookends our list with Los Angeles and Bakersfield, with Northern California (7th), San Diego (14th), and Stockton-Modesto (15th) filling in the middle. What’s to blame? High costs of living, housing shortages, a slowed job market, and the threat of severe earthquakes.

It is worth noting that two other California cities disappeared from our summer list this year: Sacramento and Santa Barbara, and the returning cities on the list sat at lower ranks than the previous year (except for Los Angeles). The shuffling follows outside data showing the second-most populated state in the country had been steadily experiencing negative net migration, though the population has recently tipped back into the green thanks to large numbers of incoming international immigrants.

Natural disasters, elections, and overcrowding in big cities will all likely influence where people choose to move over the next few years.

Watchlist: Summer Moving Predictions for 2026

Severe Weather & Natural Disasters

Devastating weather events can be a catalyst for moving trends. Interestingly, severe weather can signal both move-ins and move-outs within a particular region. For example, after a disaster, residents may decide to leave an affected area, increasing home and rental inventory. Housing prices may temporarily decrease, enticing new residents to move into the area.

Midterm Election Results

This year’s midterm elections also included off-year elections with a few gubernatorial and state legislative elections and many mayoral races (many of which are within cities on this year’s PODS summer moving trends list). The results will not only have the power to change up party majorities in the Senate and House, but will also affect residents on the state and city level via new laws, tax changes, housing policies, and overall cost of living. It may just be the push some need to pack up and move.

Increasing Populations in Mid-Sized Cities

An ongoing moving trend we’ve seen since the pandemic is people moving out of densely populated metro areas to less populated mid-sized cities and towns that offer more opportunities for a higher quality of life. As large cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and the NYC Metro Area struggle with space, resources, and jobs, we think mid-sized cities will emerge as the new metros.

Summer Moving With PODS

If you’re looking to move during summer (or any time of year), know that PODS is ready with flexible moving services designed to streamline your move. Customize your move with convenient pay-as-you-go pricing, built-in storage options, easy and flexible scheduling, and three moving container sizes. Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Check out the PODS Blog for 24/7 access to our expert moving advice, packing and moving tips, checklists, and more to help you plan out your upcoming move step-by-step.

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.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}