With historic migration occurring during and after the pandemic, Americans clearly re-evaluated what home means to them. At All Star Home, we understand that you not only value the structure in which you live but also the city you call home. So we wondered in what cities Americans chose to stick around and which ones they wanted to leave.
To find out, we did a study that utilized U.S. Census Bureau data to assess the longevity of homeowners in the 300 most populous cities. The analysis focused on residents’ move-in years to determine the percentage of homeowners residing in their current homes for 14 years or more. From that analysis, we ranked cities and gained insights into areas where homeowners chose to put down roots.
COVID-19 changed the world as we know it, and it has certainly affected where Americans have chosen to call home. So this post explores where Americans have settled in and why they may have done so.
H2: Key Takeaways
- New York, NY, Santa Ana, CA, and Laredo, TX, are the top three cities where homeowners stick the longest.
- When viewing the 50 largest U.S. cities, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Detroit, MI, are the cities homeowners stick the longest.
- Sterling Heights, MI, Dayton, OH, and Joliet, IL, are the most affordable cities where homeowners stick the longest.
- Sticking around is the way of life for 35% of Americans who have lived in their home for 14 years or longer.
- Nearly 1 in 5 Americans have only lived in their current home for 2 years or less.
- Residents in Simi Valley, CA, Lowell, MA, and Billings, MT, are the most common to
Cities Where Homeowners Stick — or Not
Whether it’s for jobs, the “energy” people feel in the city, the lifestyle, or the diversity of cultures and things to do, people don’t just dream of moving to New York, they tend to stick. Despite some touting a mass exodus from the Big Apple, nearly 40% of New York residents who moved in 14 or more years ago have remained, making it the top city on our list.
Barely eclipsed by New York and coming in at second, Santa Ana, CA, draws and keeps residents with its ideal climate and proximity to beautiful beaches. Although the cost of living is high — but not as high as New York — Santa Ana offers residents a mix of an urban vibe with a suburban feel, and 39.57% of its residents who moved in over a decade ago have decided to stick around.
Third on our list, Laredo, Texas boasts a growing city with plenty of outdoor activities, especially centered on the Rio Grande. A border city where cultures blend, Laredo is filled with parks and a decidedly suburban feel, but it also has a varied and bustling nightlife with something for everyone.
Not all cities are worth sticking around for. Orlando, FL, Irvine, CA, and North Las Vegas, NV, had the fewest longstanding homeowners. Whether it’s the landlocked aspect of the city or the millions of travelers from around the world who descend upon Orlando for its various theme parks, 16.54% of residents have not stuck around, making Orlando the least likely city in which homeowners will stick.
Weather and climate often plays a role in how much homeowners enjoy living in a city. In fact, 7 of the top 10 cities in which homeowners stick are located in either California or Texas where you can enjoy being outdoors most of the time. However, climate doesn’t trump all factors — some people find having just a single season offers less variety.
Irvine, CA, for example, is close to beaches and has a pleasant climate that makes outdoor life enjoyable year-round, but it’s second on our list of cities in which homeowners are least likely to stick. Created to be a quiet city, Irvine has a reputation for being a bit boring, especially in terms of nightlife.
More Homeowners Stick to New York City Than Anywhere Else
The largest cities where homeowners tend to stick include New York City, San Francisco, and Detroit, respectively.
Nearly 39.8% of homeowners who moved to NYC 14 years ago chose to stay, and with New York acting as a global hub for several major industries, including finance and entertainment, this makes sense when you want to be on the forefront of opportunities and advancement.
Despite its high cost of living, San Francisco is second on our list. With great weather and a variety of things to do year-round as well as varied areas to live, this city describes itself as having a neighborhood for everyone. Homeowners seem to agree as 36.47% who have moved here in the last 14 years or more have stayed.
Detroit comes in third of our largest cities with 36.09% of its residents of 14-plus years deciding to stay. Known as the “Motor City,” Detroit was once the hub for several major manufacturing industries, such as defense and auto. Although industry declined when companies began to move outside of the continental United States, Detroit still enjoys a low cost of living and plenty of auto manufacturing despite being part of the Rust Belt.
Whether full of jobs, entertainment, or opportunity, our top three cities have incentives for keeping residents within their city limits. However, some cities have been noticing a decline in residents keeping their roots there. The top three largest cities where homeowners are least inclined to stick around include Miami, Austin, and Atlanta.
Miami can certainly attract a crowd, but the city doesn’t necessarily attract serious residents. Miami can fill hotels with tourists and keep “snowbirds” in the city during the cold months of the year, but only 19.85% of people who moved there 14 years ago have stayed.
While certainly bustling hubs within their own right, Atlanta and Austin lack the major industry needed to keep a steady population of residents from moving, like Detroit. They also lack novel tourism on the levels of that of San Francisco and New York.
Midwest Cities Capture the Top Spots in Most Affordable and Beloved Cities
Industry and jobs can play a part in whether Americans decide to stay or move out of a city, but the cost of living can also make a huge difference. Out of the top five most affordable and beloved US cities, three are located in the Rust Belt: Sterling Heights, MI (#1), Dayton, OH (#2), and Warren, MI (#4).
With a decline in industry there in recent years, the cost of living has reduced dramatically. The average home value is between $99,000 and $289,000, making these cities incredibly affordable for the average American.
The other two spots in the top five go to Joliet, IL (#3) and Hampton, VA (#5). Located in rural areas outside of large cities like Chicago and DC, both of those cities offer affordable living with the advantage of being somewhat near a major city, making these optimal choices for Americans to stay in.
Affordability isn’t the sole reason to stick around a city, to which our bottom spots on the list — Birmingham, AL, Evansville, IN, and Shreveport, LA — can attest. Although average housing costs are anywhere from $152,000 to $165,000, these cities have experienced a decline in residents making their permanent roots there.
Lowest on the list, Birmingham, AL, has only 30.56% of its 14-year-plus residents sticking around, followed by Evansville, IN, (30.61%) and Shreveport, LA (30.95%).
How All Star Home Can Help You
Regardless of where you live, your home has both tangible and intangible value to you. Whether you’re part of the population on the move or residents who prefer to stay settled in one place, you often need maintenance and repairs to help increase or maintain your property’s value.
Whether you need to update your existing home or you need to make some upgrades as you move into your new house, All Star Home understands how important it is to create a place you love to call home. Our team of experienced experts is here to help, whether it be roof repair or gutter cleaning, call All Star Home today!
Methodology
In this study, we analyzed U.S. Census Bureau Data to determine where homeowners have lived the longest. To find this, we collected data regarding the year residents of the 300 most populous cities moved into their current home. We then found the percentage of homeowners who have lived at their current residence for 14 years or longer to create a ranking.
As part of our data representation, we first cut down the list of 300 to the 100 most populous cities and ranked for the percentage of residents who moved in 14 or more years ago. We then cut the list down to 50 cities and reranked once again.
In addition, we collected the median sale price for homes in each city in 2023 from Redfin. Next, we found the median household income according to the U.S. Census Bureau ($75,149).
Using this information, we wanted to find the most expensive house the average American could comfortably afford. According to This is Mortgage, a $75,000 annual income could allow a person to buy a $310,000 house.
Using this information, we ranked cities with a median home value of $310,000 or less to find the most affordable cities where homeowners are living the longest.
