Is Texas Losing Its Appeal? 2023 Migration Data Shows Decline in Moving Interest

Texas, once a shining star among top moving destinations, is experiencing a dip in its popularity, according to new migration data released by relocation tech firm moveBuddha. The Lone Star State, renowned for its economic opportunities and vibrant culture, saw an 18% decline in moving search interest between 2022 and 2023.

While Texas maintained a positive 1.14 move-in-to-out ratio in 2023, it failed to secure a spot in the top 10 most popular states, as per moveBuddha’s data analysis.

Despite this decline, there were still positive highlights in Texas’ favor in moveBuddha’s report. Frisco, a city in Texas, secured the 22nd spot among the most popular destination cities in 2023, boasting a move-in-to-out ratio of 1.72. Additionally, Houston claimed the 6th position among the most popular big cities last year, considering cities with populations of 500,000 or more.

The nationwide trend, however, seemed to favor other states. South Carolina took the lead as the most popular destination state in 2023, followed by Hawaii, Montana, Alaska, and Tennessee.

One speculated reason for Texas’ decline in moving interest is the surge in housing prices, making it less affordable for potential residents. Using Austin as an illustrative example, the median home value in the city has surged by approximately 50% over the past five years. Even with a recent drop in home values of about 9% from the previous year, Austin’s housing market remains challenging, with area homes costing an average of $530,990, according to Zillow’s Home Value Index for November 2023.

The rising cost of living, particularly in major urban centers like Austin, may be contributing to the waning interest in Texas as a relocation destination. As the state grapples with these economic challenges, it will be interesting to see if policy changes or other factors will reverse this trend and restore Texas to its former status as a top moving destination.