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ORLANDO, Fla. – The latest migration report from MoveBuddha, now in its fifth year, has been published, shedding light on the most sought-after cities across the United States.
This annual report leverages exclusive data to identify cities that are attracting potential movers, offering a glimpse into future migration trends extending into 2026 and beyond.
The findings are based on an analysis of search data, specifically looking at the volume of people researching moves to certain cities compared to those planning to move away from them.
Upon reviewing the data, researchers have highlighted several notable trends in migration preferences:
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Retirement Destinations Lead the Pack — Myrtle Beach has emerged as the top destination, with numerous cities in Florida not far behind in popularity.
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Washington, D.C. Sees Decline — The nation’s capital experienced the most significant decrease in move interest in 2025, a decline attributed primarily to federal job cuts.
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Least Popular States — California maintained its position at No. 50, with New jersey and Connecticut coming close behind.
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Most Popular States — On the opposite end of the spectrum, South Carolina was the top move-to destination, with Idaho and North Carolina coming close behind.
Of the retirement hubs that topped this year’s list, several were from the Sunshine State, including Ocala, which placed at No. 2.
“Ocala, FL, wasn’t the nation’s favorite in 2024, but this year, its in-to-out ratio has risen 74%, from 2.39 to an astronomical 3.09. Maybe that’s because it has landed on lists showcasing how to retire on a strict budget, or because its prices remain affordable compared to other Florida cities.
#2 Port St. Lucie, FL, and #3 Palm Coast, FL, have also seen 70%+ rises in their move ratios. In the case of Port St. Lucie, that’s skyrocketed its ranking up 113 places. What do all three of Florida’s most popular have in common? They’re retirement havens, affordable compared to nearby alternatives, and off the beaten path — none are truly commutable to Florida’s largest economic centers.”
moveBuddha, “2025-2026 Migration Report”
Federal data backs this up, as the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that the Ocala metro area experienced the biggest population boom between 2024 and 2025.
Overall, Ocala experienced roughly 3.4% growth during this timeframe, with places like Lakeland and Punta Gorda coming close behind.
Meanwhile, the top 25 most popular cities included in this year’s report were revealed to be as follows:
| Rank | City | Searches for moves in-to-out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 328 in to 100 out |
| 2 | Ocala, FL | 309 in to 100 out |
| 3 | The Villages, FL | 277 in to 100 out |
| 4 | Greenville, SC | 227 in to 100 out |
| 5 | Palm Coast, FL | 214 in to 100 out |
| 6 | St. Augustine, FL | 197 in to 100 out |
| 7 | Wilmington, NC | 197 in to 100 out |
| 8 | Knoxville, TN | 183 in to 100 out |
| 9 | Huntsville, AL | 180 in to 100 out |
| 10 | Kissimmee, FL | 176 in to 100 out |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | 174 in to 100 out |
| 12 | Chattanooga, TN | 172 in to 100 out |
| 13 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 167 in to 100 out |
| 14 | Georgetown, TX | 166 in to 100 out |
| 15 | Santa Fe, NM | 165 in to 100 out |
| 16 | Asheville, NC | 163 in to 100 out |
| 17 | Greensboro, NC | 162 in to 100 out |
| 18 | Franklin, TN | 155 in to 100 out |
| 19 | Cumming, GA | 153 in to 100 out |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | 152 in to 100 out |
| 21 | Fort Collins, CO | 149 in to 100 out |
| 22 | Cary, NC | 146 in to 100 out |
| 23 | Bellingham, WA | 144 in to 100 out |
| 24 | Boulder, CO | 144 in to 100 out |
| 25 | Daytona Beach, FL | 144 in to 100 out |
On the flip side, the cities where people wanted to leave the most were determined to be the following:
| Rank | City | Searches for moves in-to-out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | 48 in to 100 out |
| 2 | Long Beach, CA | 48 in to 100 out |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | 54 in to 100 out |
| 4 | Fresno, CA | 58 in to 100 out |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | 59 in to 100 out |
| 6 | Oceanside, CA | 60 in to 100 out |
| 7 | Fairfax, VA | 62 in to 100 out |
| 8 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 63 in to 100 out |
| 9 | Manchester, NH | 63 in to 100 out |
| 10 | North Las Vegas, NV | 64 in to 100 out |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | 65 in to 100 out |
| 12 | Alexandria, VA | 65 in to 100 out |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | 65 in to 100 out |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | 65 in to 100 out |
| 15 | Newark, NJ | 66 in to 100 out |
| 16 | Dayton, OH | 68 in to 100 out |
| 17 | Pompano Beach, FL | 68 in to 100 out |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | 69 in to 100 out |
| 19 | Overland Parks, KS | 69 in to 100 out |
| 20 | Syracuse, NY | 70 in to 100 out |
| 21 | Santa Clara, CA | 70 in to 100 out |
| 22 | Arlington, VA | 70 in to 100 out |
| 23 | Irvine, CA | 71 in to 100 out |
| 24 | St. Louis, MO | 72 in to 100 out |
| 25 | Tempe, AZ | 72 in to 100 out |
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