2025 Data: 70% of Americans Have Regrets About Moving

Why Americans Move | Moving Costs | Budgeting for a Move | Moving Stressors | Moving Tasks | Moving Companies | DIY Movers | Moving Conflicts | Moving Regrets | Cities Americans Are Moving to | States Americans Are Moving to

Having a baby, getting divorced, and losing a loved one are among life's most stressful experiences. But for some Americans, the anxiety caused by moving is even greater. 

About 82% of Americans who moved in 2024 say it was stressful, with 42% saying the process brought them to tears, according to a new survey from Anytime Estimate. 

Handling the stress was just one challenge movers had to overcome in 2024. As prices for goods and services rose, financial obstacles burdened many. 

The average move cost more than $2,000 in 2024, with 78% of movers experiencing unexpected expenses. 

Although movers were more likely to prioritize keeping the cost down over finding a prime location, more than 38% say the total cost of their move was higher than expected, and 40% went over budget.

It's no wonder 39% of Americans say moving made their financial situation worse. 

To learn more about how and why Americans move, we asked 1,000 people who relocated in 2024 about their experience. 

We found that more than 1 in 4 Americans (29%) expected to be happier after they moved. Instead, 70% are weighed down by regrets.

More Than 1 in 4 Americans Aren't Happier After Their Move

If economic prosperity leads to well-being, then Americans should be some of the happiest people on the planet. 

Yet the World Happiness Report has some unhappy news for Americans. For the first time in the report's history, the U.S. did not rank among the top 20 happiest countries in the world. 

A majority of Americans believe moving could improve their quality of life. In fact, 54% of people who moved in 2024 did so with the hope that a change in location would fix their problems.

Although 3 in 4 Americans (72%) felt a sense of immediate relief when leaving their old residence, many didn't experience greater happiness in the long run. 

Happiness is influenced by a complex set of factors — such as community connections, career satisfaction, and financial stability — that aren't guaranteed to improve with a simple location change. 

More than 1 in 4 Americans (29%) thought they'd be happier after they moved, but they're not. 

Americans may not be happier after relocating because not all moves are aligned with their happiness goals. Sometimes necessity dictates a move, especially as the rising cost of living has many Americans looking for more affordable places to live. 

About 1 in 3 Americans (34%) say financial desperation forced them to move somewhere they didn’t want to, and 1 in 5 (20%) say they are embarrassed about where they ended up.

Americans also moved in 2024 to:

• Escape an undesirable situation (26%)
• Experience a change (21%)
• Find a lower cost of living/more affordable homes (20%)
• Have a better quality of life (18%)
• Live closer to friends and family (17%)

Americans Spent More Than $2,000 on Their Move in 2024

Americans may be looking to move to more affordable areas, but they'll pay a heavy price to get there. 

The average American spent $2,050 on their move in 2024. 

Of course, the cost of moving depends on a variety of factors, including the length of the move, with longer moves generally costing more. 

Those who moved more than 100 miles spent $3,291 on average, which is nearly double the $1,666 that Americans spent when moving less than 100 miles away.

With movers charging by volume or weight, Americans who have more belongings also face higher prices. Homeowners spent $2,915 on average to move, while renters — who tend to have less space and fewer items — spent just $1,792.

Despite lower costs for some, 60% of Americans still say moving is not affordable.

Fretting about the high costs of moving can make an already stressful process even more so. Not surprisingly, those who minimized their moving costs tended to have a more positive experience.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Americans who rated their move as a 9 or a 10 spent $1,783 on average, while those who rated it as a 5 or below spent $2,123 on average. 

3 in 4 Americans Experienced Unexpected Costs During Their Move

Americans know relocating is expensive, but 44% say the cost of moving still surprised them, and 38% say the total cost was higher than expected.

No matter how thoroughly Americans craft their moving budgets, even the best budgeters fail to account for every expense. More than 3 in 4 Americans (78%) had unexpected costs during their move. 

The most common moving-related purchases that cost more than expected are:

• Unplanned miscellaneous purchases (27%)
• Gas and travel expenses (26%)
• Cleaning (21%)
• Renting a moving truck (19%)
• Packing supplies and materials (18%)

Failing to account for these costs could be why 40% of movers say they went over budget — with potentially disastrous consequences. More than 1 in 3 Americans (39%) say moving made their financial situation worse. 

As a result, 14% regret not budgeting for unexpected expenses, and 45% say they would not be so willing to go over budget on their next move. 

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Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Say Moving Is More Stressful Than Divorce

Moving not only strains Americans' finances, it also upends their daily life. Nearly all Americans (92%) faced challenges during their move, the most common of which was simply handling the stress (48%). 

About 82% of Americans say moving was stressful, with some Americans finding it even more anxiety-inducing than notoriously stressful life events:

• 35% say moving is more stressful than planning a wedding.
• 29% say moving is more stressful than having a baby.
• 19% say moving is more stressful than getting a divorce.
• 17% say moving is more stressful than getting laid off.
• 14% say moving is more stressful than a death in the family. 

Like many major life events, moving often causes emotional turmoil — from adjusting to a new environment and new routines to coping with financial strain and significant time demands. 

Under all this emotional weight, it's no surprise 42% of Americans cried during the moving process. 

Packing Is the Most Stressful Part of Moving

From deep cleaning to heavy lifting, moving is full of unpleasant tasks. But Americans say packing is the worst. 

Packing is simultaneously the most stressful (34%), difficult (37%), and dreaded (36%) part of moving — likely because it's also the most time-consuming (43%).

Americans can make packing a little easier by paring down their belongings before moving. But many Americans are reluctant to let go of their items, especially those that hold sentimental value. About 1 in 4 movers say decluttering is the most stressful (27%), difficult (27%), and dreaded task (25%). 

Yet movers who don't discard their belongings often spend more time and money to move them — often leading to remorse. Failing to downsize their belongings is movers' most common regret (22%). 

Unpacking is slightly less hated, with just 15% saying it's the most stressful, 19% saying it's the most difficult, and 22% saying it's the most dreaded job. However, figuring out where to put belongings in their new home, which can take time to complete, is a challenge for 31% of Americans. 

More than 1 in 4 Americans (26%) say it took more than a month to unpack after moving, and another quarter (25%) say they're still in the process of settling into their new home.

43% of Americans Hired Professional Movers, Despite Higher Costs

More than half of Americans (54%) say others downplay how difficult moving truly is, but those who have recently relocated know the reality is much more challenging. 

Americans will gladly pay for products and services that will make the moving process slightly easier or convenient. About 79% of Americans paid for some sort of product or service to help with their move. 

Of those, 43% hired a moving company — despite 49% saying moving companies are dishonest.

The most common purchases from a moving company include:

• Labor, such as moving items from a home to a truck (33%)
• Drivers (21%)
• Packing and unpacking services (14%)
• Furniture assembly and disassembly (12%)

Hiring professional movers, though, comes with a higher price tag. Those who used a moving company spent $2,907 on their move — more than double the $1,334 DIY movers spent. 

Most moving companies will provide customers with quotes to help them budget for the higher expense, but 39% of Americans say the amount they were quoted was not the actual amount they paid for their move. 

This can happen when Americans misjudge how much needs to be moved, with the error often resulting in an unpleasant surprise. 

Those who hired a moving company (54%) were more likely than DIY movers (44%) to be surprised by the total cost of their move. They were also more likely to go over budget, with 47% of moving company customers paying more than planned, compared to 40% of DIY movers.  

When a significant amount of money is paid to a moving company, customers expect the service to alleviate anxiety. But common problems — such as delays, damages, and unexpected fees — can actually make the moving process feel more stressful.

About 87% of those who hired professional movers say moving was stressful, compared to 82% of those who moved themselves. 

Despite the additional stress and expense, 65% would still recommend their moving company to others based on their experience.

Three-Fourths of Americans Think Moving Companies Overcharge

More than 1 in 3 Americans (36%) opted to forgo professional movers but still purchased à la carte products and services to help with their move.

DIY movers were most likely to pay for:

• A truck rental (41%)
• Packing supplies (38%)
• A storage unit (26%)
• A van rental (13%)
• A pod rental (7%)

With 73% of Americans saying moving companies overcharge, these products appeal to cost-conscious movers who are capable of moving by themselves or with a little assistance.  

In fact, the most common reason Americans passed on hiring movers is because they had family and friends to help (49%). 

However, few people like helping with a move, and 29% of Americans admit they've made up an excuse to avoid it. It's no surprise, then, that 39% of movers say they expected more help from family and friends than they actually received. 

Some movers don't think they need help anyway, with 46% saying they didn't hire movers because they could do it themselves. 

Like every choice, DIYing a move has its pros and cons. On one hand, solo movers have more control over how their fragile items are packed and transported. The extra care results in fewer broken items among DIY movers (27%) than those who hired professional movers (43%). 

Yet moving also entails more work and heavy lifting than most people expect. More than half of Americans (52%) say they underestimated the physical labor required to move, and 35% ended up hurting themselves in the process. 

Overall, DIY movers think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks — rating their move more positively than those who used a moving company. On a scale of 1 to 10, DIY movers rated their moving experience a 6.7 on average, compared to 6.5 among those who used a moving company. 

What's more, 89% of DIY movers do not regret their decision to forgo a moving company.

1 in 4 Americans Say Moving With a Partner Caused Conflict

Moving without the help of professionals, family, or friends may seem like a daunting task, but in some ways, it can be much simpler. Solo movers have full control over decisions without needing to compromise or coordinate with a partner — leading to a happier experience.  

On a scale of 1 to 10, solo movers gave their move a 6.88, while those who moved with at least one other person gave their move a 6.45. 

With so many decisions to make during a move, partners are bound to have differing opinions. More than 1 in 4 Americans (29%) say moving caused conflict with their loved ones, while 1 in 6 (17%) go so far as to say it hurt their relationship.

Couples often clash over the move itself, with nearly 1 in 6 Americans disagreeing with their partner on where to move (17%) or what new property to call home (17%).

Conflicts further intensify during the moving process, with 40% saying they struggled to share day-to-day responsibilities with their partner during the move — leaving nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) feeling like their partner did not do their fair share of the move.

The imbalance may be self-inflicted, though. About 44% of Americans admit they prioritized other people's happiness over their own when making moving decisions, resulting in 37% making more compromises than their partner during the move.

It's no surprise, then, that 1 in 7 Americans (14%) say moving caused them to resent their partner.

Women Are 2x More Likely to Consider Ending a Relationship After Moving With a Partner

Moves are challenging for any relationship, particularly those that are newer and untested. Unmarried couples (46%) were more likely than married couples (28%) to report conflict during their move.  

Unmarried partners were also about 2x more likely than spouses to:

• Disagree on where to move (28% vs. 12%) 
• Say their relationship is worse than it was before their move (24% vs. 13%) 
• Consider ending their relationship because of the move (19% vs. 10%)

Women, whether married or unmarried, were also more likely to feel dissatisfied than men by the conflicts and inequities that arose during the move.  

Women were about 2x more likely than men to: 

• Say their relationship is worse than it was before their move (19% vs. 10%) 
• Consider ending their relationship as a result of the move (16% vs. 8%)

70% of Americans Have Regrets About Their Move

Making compromises on a decision as important as relocating can cause many movers to doubt if they're making the right decision. In fact, 1 in 3 Americans (33%) considered backing out of their move at least once. 

While some Americans second-guess or overthink their move, others fail to give it enough thought. Another third (34%) say they moved before fully considering the long-term consequences of their choice. 

It's no wonder 70% have regrets about their move. 

Americans regret that:

• They didn't discard more of their belongings before moving (22%)
• They miss their old home (18%)
• Moving was too expensive (18%)
• Moving was too much of a hassle (18%)
• They didn't budget for unexpected expenses (14%)

Despite their regrets, 84% of Americans are happy they moved, and 83% think the hassle of moving was worth it.

What Cities Are Americans Moving to in 2025?

With the high cost of long-distance moves, just 33% of Americans think it's a good time to move across the country. As a result, 76% moved locally, while 24% moved 100 miles or more. 

Of those who moved:

• 10% moved to a different house in the same neighborhood
• 32% moved to a different neighborhood in the same city
• 36% moved to a different city in the same state
• 22% moved to a different state

When moving, 54% of Americans prioritize cost concerns, such as staying in budget and finding an affordable home, compared to 46% who prioritize a prime location. 

Consequently, 42% of people who moved in 2024 didn't leave their city, but they might have pursued their dream destinations if financial obstacles hadn't stood in their way. 

If money were no object, Americans say these expensive cities are the most desirable places to move:

1. Nashville, Tennessee (24%)
2. Denver, Colorado (23%)
3. Las Vegas, Nevada (21%)
4. San Diego, California (20%)
5. Los Angeles, California (19%)

Very few people would willingly choose to move to Rust Belt cities, where lingering perceptions of high crime, aging infrastructure, and few job opportunities make them less attractive places for relocation. 

Americans say these cities are the least desirable places to move:

1. Cleveland, Ohio (2%)
2. Indianapolis, Indiana (3%)
3. Detroit, Michigan (3%)
4. Columbus, Ohio (3%)
5. Cincinnati, Ohio (3%)

With three cities on the least desirable list, Americans are saying Ohi-no to the Buckeye State.  

Although Ohio's major cities generally have more affordable homes and a lower cost of living than other major metros, Americans seem to prefer more well-known cultural hubs with much nicer weather.

What States Are Americans Moving to in 2025?

If money were no object, Americans would like to move to states with predominantly sunny weather and natural beauty.

The highest percentage of Americans would want to move to:

1. Florida (36%)
2. Hawaii (35%)
3. California (34%)
4. Colorado (26%)
5. Texas (24%)

The fewest Americans would want to move to:

1. North Dakota (2%)
2. Nebraska (2%)
3. Mississippi (3%)
4. Iowa (3%)
5. Kansas (3%)

However, practical realities often dictate where people move, and the most appealing states don't always gain the most new residents. 

California, for example, is considered a desirable place to move but has experienced significant population loss in recent years. In fact, California led all 50 states in negative net migration, with 62% of migrants moving out, compared to 38% moving in.

After California, the states with the most outbound moves are:

• New York (61% outbound, 39% inbound)
• Illinois (59% outbound, 41% inbound)
• Louisiana (59% outbound, 41% inbound)
• New Jersey (59% outbound, 41% inbound)

Although North Dakota is considered one of the least desirable places to move, the state had the highest net migration in 2023 — the last full year for which data is available. Of all the people moving in and out of the state, 62% moved in, and 38% moved out.

After North Dakota, the states with the highest net migration are:

• South Carolina (60% inbound, 40% outbound)
• North Carolina (59% inbound, 41% outbound)
• Maine (58% inbound, 42% outbound)
• Vermont (58% inbound, 42% outbound)

Much like North Dakota, the states that are the least appealing to Americans haven't experienced significant population loss, indicating residents are generally happy living there. North Dakota and Mississippi actually gained new residents, while Nebraska broke even. 

Meanwhile, Iowa experienced only a slight population decline, with 51% outbound moves and 49% inbound moves. But Kansas sustained a somewhat steeper loss, with 55% outbound moves and 45% inbound moves. 

Methodology

Anytime Estimate surveyed 1,000 American adults who indicated they had moved in 2024 and asked them an array of questions related to their experience with their recent move. The survey was conducted Dec. 8 to 11, 2024. Additional data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey was used in the analysis.

About Anytime Estimate

Stay on top of your money, around the clock. Since 2009, Anytime Estimate's straightforward calculators and expert articles have simplified mortgages, refinancing, and other real estate costs — fast. In 2021, Anytime Estimate was acquired by Clever Real Estate, a free agent-matching service that has helped consumers save more than $180 million on real estate fees. Research by Anytime Estimate's Data Center has been cited by The New York Times, CNBC, MarketWatch, NPR, Apartment Therapy, Yahoo Finance, Black Enterprise, and more.

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