- 22% of U.S. residents moving to a different state cited better weather as a factor in their move, the most commonly cited reason, per a new Redfin survey.
- Nearly as many people, 21%, are looking to move out of state due to concerns about climate change.
- Weather and climate concerns are more common reasons for moving out of state than affordability, a new job or living closer to family.
More than one in five (22%) U.S. residents planning an out-of-state move said better weather is motivating their relocation, making it the most commonly cited reason among 29 options included in a recent Redfin survey.
Concerns about natural disasters and climate risks ranked a close second, with 21% of respondents saying those factors are influencing the decision to leave their current state.
This is according to a Redfin survey conducted by Ipsos in May 2026, fielded to 4,000 U.S. residents. This report focuses on the following question: “Which of the following reflect reasons why you are likely to move in the next year?” Respondents could select all that apply from a list of 29 options. The results in this report are from the respondents who said they’re planning to move to a different state in the next 12 months. Please see the end of this report for more on methodology.
People who plan to move to a different neighborhood or city within their state have different top reasons. Among that group, 29% are moving to upgrade to a better home or neighborhood, and the same share plan to move because they want more space, the most commonly cited factors. Next comes concern for safety/crime (21%). Just 9% of this group cited better weather as a reason for their move, and 14% cited concern for natural disasters or climate risks.
Migration Data Shows That Americans Commonly Move From Cold Places to Warm, Sunny Locales
Redfin migration data shows that Americans consistently move northern parts of the country to warm, sunny southern metro areas. Florida, Las Vegas and Sacramento are among the most popular destinations for relocating homebuyers and renters. This survey shows a similar trend: Of the respondents who are planning an out-of-state move, 14% are moving to Florida, the most commonly cited state, followed closely by Texas (13%) and California (11%).
Of course, many of the metros that people are leaving are much more expensive than the places they’re moving to; cost of living is an important consideration in deciding where to live, but so is weather. Many of the places with warm, sunny weather happen to have fairly affordable homes, too. For instance, the typical home in Orlando sells for $411,000, about half as much as the typical home in New York, the most common out-of-state origin for people moving to Orlando.
“Many movers are looking for a location that aligns with their ideal lifestyle, and weather can play a meaningful role in that decision,”said Redfin Economist Yingqi Xu. “Whether it’s escaping harsh winters, the desire for year-round outdoor recreation or looking to sunshine as a mood booster, weather is an important consideration for many Americans who are relocating.”
A separate Redfin survey found that U.S. residents prioritize sunlight over home size: 44% would prefer a smaller home with more sunlight over a larger, dimmer home, while 24% would prefer the opposite. The survey also found that people who live in sun-filled homes are much more likely to love where they live.
In terms of Americans moving due to concern about natural disasters and climate risks, a separate Redfin analysis reinforces that point. Movement away from flood-prone parts of the U.S. intensified in 2025 after becoming a notable trend in 2024.
Safety, Affordability, Politics Also Factor Into Out-of-State Moves
Among those planning an out-of-state move, concern for safety or crime was the most commonly cited reason after weather and climate risk, with 20% of respondents selecting that option. Next comes moving for a new job (19%). They’re followed by lower overall cost of living (18%), and moving to be closer to family (18%).
Another affordability factor–lower rental/home prices, cited by 15%–also landed on the top 10 list.
It’s also noteworthy that a sizable share of respondents said they plan to move for political reasons. More than one in 10 (12%) who intend to move out-of-state are moving to live in an area where their views are better aligned with the political majority, and 8% are planning to move to live in a place where abortions are legal and/or accessible.
| Full results for survey question: Which of the following reflect reasons why you are likely to move in the next year?
This table includes responses from the 284 U.S. residents who indicated they’re planning to move to a different state within the next 12 months, and the 564 respondents who are planning to move within their current state. Respondents could select all that apply. |
||
| Reason | Out-of-state movers | In-state movers |
| For better weather | 22% | 9% |
| Concern for natural disasters or climate risks in my previous area including heat, drought, flooding, fire, smoke or poor air quality. | 21% | 14% |
| Concern for safety/crime | 20% | 21% |
| Move for a new job or job relocation | 19% | 7% |
| To be with or nearer to family | 18% | 14% |
| For lower overall cost of living | 18% | 18% |
| Upgrade to better home or neighborhood | 18% | 29% |
| Want more space | 16% | 29% |
| Concerns about job security | 15% | 8% |
| For lower rental/home prices | 15% | 16% |
| For lower mortgage rates | 15% | 8% |
| For lower insurance costs | 14% | 7% |
| I didn’t love the area I was living in | 14% | 12% |
| To live in an area where my views are better aligned with the political majority | 12% | 8% |
| For lower property taxes | 12% | 10% |
| For a shorter commute | 12% | 7% |
| To live in an area where I can (or my children can) receive gender affirming care | 12% | 3% |
| To be in an area that is more ethnically/racially diverse | 11% | 6% |
| I didn’t love the home I was living in | 10% | 12% |
| Family changes (i.e. child care, plans to have children, death or divorce) | 8% | 10% |
| For a return-to-office policy for myself or my spouse/partner | 8% | 2% |
| For lower childcare costs | 8% | 4% |
| To live in an area where abortions are legal and/or accessible | 8% | 5% |
| To live in an area with more highly rated schools | 8% | 10% |
| Downsizing/want less space | 6% | 6% |
| I have felt discriminated in my area | 6% | 5% |
| I have felt discriminated against by my landlord | 6% | 3% |
| For lower homeowners’ association dues | 6% | 7% |
| For orders or requests related to military service | 4% | 2% |
Methodology
The survey results in this report are from a Redfin survey conducted by Ipsos in May 2026. It was fielded to a nationally representative sample of 4,000 adults 18+ who are U.S. residents.
This report focuses on the following question: “Which of the following reflect reasons why you are likely to move in the next year?” In this report, we’re focusing on responses from the 284 respondents who said they’re likely to move out of state within the next 12 months, as well as 564 respondents who said they’re likely to move in-state within the next 12 months. The results for these groups of survey respondents have a credibility interval of +/- 7.2 and 5.1 percentage points, respectively. Respondents could select all that apply from 29 options, which are listed in the table above.
