In 2025, Americans continued to move. However, they did so with sharper intent. Whatever the distance, having the right moving services lined up makes the transition easier.
Relocation decisions weren’t made lightly this year. Housing costs, interest rates and shifting work arrangements asked more of every move. What the United Van Lines 49th Annual National Movers Study shows is not hesitation, but discernment. People didn’t stop moving. They became more deliberate about where — and why.
That deliberation is clearest at the city level.
Rather than clustering around the largest metros or the fastest-growing regions, inbound moves concentrated in specific places where the fundamentals of daily life still line up. These are metros people are actively choosing — not chasing for status or novelty but selecting because they support a life that feels workable now.
Based on household moves handled by the UniGroup network within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., United classifies cities as “high inbound” when 55% or more of moves are inbound.
The Top 10 Inbound Cities of 2025
- Eugene–Springfield, OR (85%)
- Wilmington, NC (83%)
- Dover, DE (79%)
- Fort Wayne, IN (73%)
- Myrtle Beach, SC (72%)
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (72%)
- Salem, OR (70%)
- Springfield, MO (69%)
- Hickory, NC (68%)
- Lake Charles, LA (68%)
Taken together, the list tells a consistent story. Growth isn’t spreading evenly across entire states or regions. It’s concentrated in metros where everyday life — housing, work, family and pace — still makes sense.
A Closer Look at the Top 5 Cities
Eugene–Springfield, Oregon
Eugene and its surrounding county stand apart in this year’s data. Driven almost entirely by people choosing to move in, it was not a natural population increase.
That distinction matters. It signals a metro that’s being actively selected.
The University of Oregon draws students, faculty and staff, but the pull extends further. Tech and software roles in the wider region attract professionals who want career options without the demands of a major tech hub. Health care, public-sector employment and remote work add stability. Layer in outdoor access, a more manageable pace and relative affordability — now beginning to feel some strain — and the appeal comes into focus.
Eugene isn’t an outlier. It’s a leading indicator.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington reflects a similar pattern, expressed through a different landscape.
The city continues to draw inbound moves from people who want coastal access without the intensity of a major metro. Shipping, tourism and film production anchor the local economy, while Wilmington’s size keeps commutes and daily logistics manageable. Historic neighborhoods and riverfront living provide a strong sense of place, but it’s the balance that draws people in. Not escape, but alignment.
Dover, Delaware
Dover’s position near the top of the list underscores how intention often looks steady rather than flashy.
As Delaware’s capital, Dover benefits from public-sector employment and health care roles, offering predictability in a time when many households value it. Its location keeps residents connected to larger Northeast markets without requiring the costs or congestion that often come with them. Dover is chosen not for reinvention, but for reliability — a place where people can settle into plans that feel sustainable.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne’s strong inbound share highlights the Midwest’s quiet pull in 2025.
Employment across manufacturing, health care and education provides a stable foundation, while comparatively attainable housing supports longer-term thinking. For many movers, Fort Wayne represents something increasingly rare: A place where owning a home, shortening commutes and building a life that doesn’t feel financially stretched are still realistic goals.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach rounds out the top five as an example of familiarity becoming permanence.
Long known as a vacation destination, the area continues to attract people ready to make it home. Mild winters, coastal access and expanding residential communities appeal to retirees and working households alike. While tourism remains central to the economy, health care and service-sector jobs provide year-round support. For many, Myrtle Beach offers ease without isolation.
What the City Data Reveals
The state lists provide the wide shot. The city data reveals the decision-making beneath it.
Across regions — from Oregon to the Carolinas, from the Midwest to the South — the strongest inbound metros share common traits. Shorter commutes. A realistic path to homeownership. Enough job opportunities to stay. These are places where life feels workable, not provisional.
People aren’t chasing a brand-new identity. They’re finding home where the life they want might fit.
Behind every box is a beginning. In 2025, those beginnings are thoughtful, chosen and grounded in a clear sense of what matters next. If Georgia is on your list, our Georgia movers are ready to help you settle in.
Ready to Make a Move?
United’s here to help — and it all starts with a moving quote. Our full-service moving packagesprovide flexibility to mix and match the services you want and need, from packing and unpackingto standard furniture placement.
Still searching for your next destination? Our state and city guides help give you a sense of space and place.
Get a head start on planning your move with ourweek-by-week moving checklist.If you prefer access to these pro tips on the go, our free, digital House Key magazineis a great read.
Planning a move to one of these cities? Our long-distance moving team can help with the logistics, and if you’re relocating within Georgia, browse our service areas to see if we cover your new neighborhood. Settling into a new home usually means full residential moving support, and our packing services can take the stress out of wrapping up your belongings before the truck arrives. Moving locally instead? Our local movers and small move options are built for shorter trips across town.
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