What movers expected before relocating
15%
15% had expected more outdoor space — the most common answer.
n = 3,011 Americans who moved state in the previous five years · Fielded 2026 · Cherry Data Signals
Breakdown
more outdoor space15%
larger homes14%
more affordable homes14%
newer homes10%
more storage7%
fewer HOA rules6%
more privacy4%
better parking or garages3%
less maintenance3%
less crowded neighborhoods3%
more character3%
homes better suited to the weather3%
0%50%100%
Methodology
- Sample
- 3,011
- Population
- Americans who moved state in the previous five years
- Country
- United States
- Fielded
- 2026
- Research by
- Cherry Data Signals
- Study
- What Surprises Americans After Moving States
Cite this statistic
Cherry Data Signals (2026). "What movers expected before relocating" Survey of 3,011 Americans who moved state in the previous five years, United States. https://cherrysignals.com/statistics/what-movers-expected-before-relocating
Free to reproduce with attribution to Cherry Data Signals and a link to this page.
Related statistics
- Housing expectation gaps among newcomers#1
- Locals were much friendlier than expected and 47% slightly friendlier53%
- Barriers to settling in after a move17%
- Settling in was about as expected; 9% said nothing made it harder7%
- At least occasionally thought homes were better where they came from63%
- Housing reality seriously made them question the move; 44% somewhat; 34% felt better about moving22%
- The home features movers miss most16%
- No real housing surprises after moving22%
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