In a shocking turn of events, it appears that love and break-ups are the new driving forces behind people’s moves. The U.S. Census Bureau has released data showing that in 2022, getting married or divorced was a more common reason for moving compared to the previous year. Looks like Cupid has been busy shooting arrows at people’s hearts and homes.
The survey revealed that housing-related reasons have long been the frontrunner for people’s moves, accounting for 41.6% of all movers. But it seems that the allure of a newer, larger, or better place to live has lost some of its magic. The percentage of movers seeking upgrades has declined, signaling a potential reversal of the housing boom that occurred during the pandemic. Maybe people are realizing that a fancy house doesn’t necessarily equal happiness.
On the family front, 26.5% of movers reported family-related reasons for their relocation. This includes changes in marital status and the desire to establish one’s own household. It’s speculated that the increase in moves due to changes in marital status may be a result of couples finally resuming their wedding plans after putting them on hold during the height of the pandemic. Who knew that love could be such a motivator for moving?
Surprisingly, employment-related reasons for moving were cited only 16.1% of the time. This is the first time since 2017 that moving for employment hasn’t taken the top spot. It appears that people are prioritizing matters of the heart over matters of the wallet. Who needs a job when you can have a romantic adventure, right?
All in all, it’s clear that love and relationships are playing a significant role in people’s decision to move. It’s a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, we should follow our hearts and not just our housing needs or job prospects. Love truly does make the world go round, even if it means packing up and relocating to find it. Move over, housing market, love is the new hot commodity!