U.S. Moving Data
In the 2025 American Community Survey, approximately 11.6% of U.S. residents age one or older lived in a different home one year earlier. About 9.0% had moved within the same state, 2.1% moved from another state and 0.6% moved from abroad. The comparable 2024 mover share was 11.8%. These are estimates about people, not a count of house moves or moving trucks.
1. About 11.6% of residents moved within a year
The 2025 ACS estimates 39,381,300 residents age one or older lived in a different home a year earlier, out of a base of 338,270,997. That is approximately 11.6%, compared with 11.8% in 2024 and 12.1% in 2023.
That means most people did not move in a given year, but residential mobility still affects a large enough share of the population to keep furniture portability and move-in planning relevant.
2. Most movers stayed in the same state
The 2025 ACS estimates 30,370,768 people, or approximately 9.0% of its age-one-plus population, had moved within the same state. This combines 20,202,671 moving within the same county with 10,168,097 moving from a different county within the same state.
Same-state moves can still involve major changes in dwelling type, from apartment to house, city to suburb or one floor plan to another.
3. About 2.1% moved to a different state
The 2025 ACS estimates 7,025,589 residents, or approximately 2.1%, moved from another state. The comparable share was about 2.1% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2023, so the longer-term change should not be inferred from one year alone.
Long-distance moves place more emphasis on delivery planning, deciding what furniture is worth transporting and measuring the new home before large pieces arrive.
4. A move exposes furniture-fit problems quickly
Sofas, beds and dining tables that worked in one home may not fit doorways, stairs or circulation in the next. Measure the delivery route as well as the destination room.
If a piece only fits after removing doors, railings or windows, the logistics and cost can outweigh the value of keeping it.
5. Storage systems rarely transfer perfectly
A move changes closet widths, pantry depth, bathroom storage and entry routines. Containers bought for the old home can waste space in the new one.
Delay large organization purchases until the new storage dimensions and daily routines are clear.
6. Renters benefit from portable solutions
People who expect additional moves may get more value from freestanding shelves, modular storage, plug-in lighting and furniture that disassembles easily than from highly customized built-ins.
That does not mean a temporary home has to feel temporary; it means choosing improvements that can move or be reversed when practical.
7. The first week should prioritize function
Set up sleep, bathing, basic cooking, work and safe circulation before styling every surface. These functions reveal where storage and furniture are actually needed.
Use boxes temporarily rather than rushing to buy pieces simply because an empty room feels unfinished.
Key figures at a glance
| Measure | Estimate | Source year |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible population, aged 1+ | 338,270,997 | 2025 ACS |
| Moved in past year | 39,381,300 (11.6%) | 2025 ACS, calculated from B07001 |
| Moved within same state | 30,370,768 (9.0%) | 2025 ACS |
| Moved from a different state | 7,025,589 (2.1%) | 2025 ACS |
| Moved from abroad | 1,984,943 (0.6%) | 2025 ACS |
| Moved in past year, historical | 11.8% | 2024 ACS |
| Moved in past year, historical | 12.1% | 2023 ACS |
Why this matters for homes and interiors
Moving statistics matter to interiors because homes are not static containers. Millions of people re-fit beds, sofas, desks, storage and lighting to a different set of dimensions each year.
Portable, modular solutions can reduce waste for households likely to move again, while homeowners settling long term may justify more built-in investment after the new layout has been tested.
Primary sources
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS Table B07001, Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Age, with the official 2025 national estimates and margins of error. Estimates use categories B07001_001, _017, _033, _049, _065 and _081. The older sources listed below support 2024 and earlier comparisons.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Migration/Geographic Mobility at a Glance — 2024 ACS national mover shares.
- U.S. Census Bureau, CPS Geographic Mobility Tables — additional mobility datasets and historical tables.
Related Dwelanor guides
- Furniture Delivery Measurement Guide — check doors, hallways, stairs and elevators
- Small Apartment Storage Map — rebuild storage around the new home
- Rental Decorating Guide — choose reversible changes
- Furniture Sizing Guide — test large pieces before buying
- Entryway & Hallway Design Guide — set up the arrival zone
Bottom line
The 2025 ACS indicates that approximately 11.6% of U.S. residents aged one and older changed residence over the previous year, with most movers remaining in their state. For interiors, this reinforces the value of careful measurement, adaptable furniture and delaying major storage purchases until the new home is understood.
