In a restless and mobile nation, the fast-growing West wanders more than the rest. Fifteen percent of Westerners, including Utahns, moved last year, mostly for housing, family reasons or work opportunities, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. The South, another growth hot spot, was right behind at 14 percent. The Northeast moved the least, with 9 percent changing homes. In the Midwest, 13 percent pulled up stakes. The latest statistics, from 2007, also showed:
Most movers stayed within their home counties
More than 25 million of the 38.7 million Americans who changed addresses last year stayed in the same county.
In the West, the number was 7 million out of nearly 10 million.
Many of those movers are trying to get closer to work, Salt Lake Board of Realtors President Jillinda Bowers said.
"Even in Salt Lake they'll move around for employment opportunities," Bowers said. "People right now are moving closer to work, especially with gas prices the way they are."
Young Westerners move most
Of the nearly 10 million who moved in the 13 Western states last year, people in their 20s did so most frequently. Among 4.8 million Westerners ages 20 to 24, nearly a third (1.5 million) moved last year. Nearly 27 percent, or about 1.3 million, out of 4.9 million in the 25-29 group found different addresses.
Contrast that to the 65-69 age group, in which only 70,000 of 2.3 million Westerners moved.
A third of American renters moved last year
In the West, 6.2 million (28 percent) out of 22.4 million renters changed addresses.
Homeowners in the region were more stationary: 41.5 million out of 45.1 million stayed put.
The suburban shift is still on
In metropolitan areas nationwide, core cities lost a combined 1.9 million while their suburbs gained 2 million.
That's a trend Wasatch Front movers have noticed as they lug boxes and furniture for clients headed to the west bench.
"South Jordan, Daybreak - lots of people moving out toward and within that area," said Hiram Miller, general manager of Moving Connections.
The other popular destination these days, though, is in Salt Lake City, around the Avenues neighborhood. Even so, Salt Lake Board of Realtors spokesman Dave Anderton said sales are hottest in South Jordan, West Valley City and surrounding suburbs.
42% of moves nationwide are for housing
People buying homes or moving to better neighborhoods drive the migration more than others. But 30 percent bolt for family reasons, and 21 percent for a job.
Family reasons can account for several lifetime moves, as people marry, trade up in the housing market, divorce or join relatives.
"Last month we had one lady who had moved [with us] five times," Miller said. "It was because she was getting divorced."
Bowers agreed with the report's ranking of housing dreams and family togetherness as tops.
"They're upgrading to nicer neighborhoods," the Salt Lake City area real estate agent said. "We [also] see them moving possibly because they want to be closer to friends or family members."
