While data suggests that mobility is generally on the wane across the United States, there remain many that do move to a new location each year. Their reasons for doing so are varied, and include college, a new job, divorce, or even climate change and natural disasters.
Research from San Diego State University highlights how the Covid pandemic was another factor in our decision to move or not. The researchers analyzed data from Google Trends to examine how the pandemic may have changed our likelihood of moving.
Measuring intent
Using Google Trends allowed the researchers to identify the use of words and search terms, such as “moving company”, or “house for rent”. which suggests a permanent change of residence. Given the strong publicity around people moving to greener environs during the early months of the pandemic, or indeed to be closer to vulnerable relatives, it is perhaps not surprising to see that there was a surge in activity between March and April.
The data suggests that these intentions were largely temporary in nature, however, as while search terms indicated a short-term move surged by over 40% in this period, those suggesting longer-term moves fell by up to 30%.
“The lack of knowledge, feelings of uncertainty and fear of the disease may have caused some level of widespread panic, prompting those in high-density areas to escape what they perceived as increased exposure to COVID and societal restrictions,” the researchers explain. “But these feelings soon subsided as lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were implemented in most states. Additionally, the risk of infection inhibited the home search process in the early months of the pandemic, causing real estate sales and rentals to decline during that same period.”
Temporary change
The desire for temporary relocations fell by up to 50% again by the end of April 2020 as people gained a greater understanding of the nature of the pandemic, the desire for permanent relocations surged again. Indeed, by June 2020, the number of those wanting to make long-term changes had risen by 24%. This figure remained high through to February 2021.
“In June 2020, the Google Trends data indicated that as Americans became more knowledgeable about the disease—and as businesses and amenities began to adjust and open up again—there was an initial marked increase in searches for housing purchases and rentals,” the researchers explain. “With the pandemic responses varying in different areas in the country, many people relocated to areas that fit their lifestyles. For example, some people moved to avoid strict lockdowns, while others may have moved to be nearer to necessary medical care.”
It’s also important to note that family ties were also important, and were indeed the one factor that remained constant throughout the pandemic. The researchers believe that their findings illustrate the thought processes people went through during the pandemic, but also caution that while Google Trends sheds light on our research into moving it doesn’t guarantee that those intentions were followed through on.
“Housing inventory, price, employment factors and other issues factor into relocations intentions vs. an actual move,” the authors conclude. “Theoretically, scholars view residential mobility as a multi-stage process, though the actual process could be nonlinear and much messier. In other words, desires or intentions to relocate may—or may not—eventually result in actually moving.”
