Nationwide in 2024, 39% of Apartment List users searched for their next rental in a new metropolitan area, while 25% considered a new state entirely, according to Apartment List’s annual renter migration study.
Researchers say this data highlights strong migration channels out of expensive states, particularly along the coasts, to more affordable ones, particularly in the southeast and Mountain West, a trend that emerged early in the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained steady to this day.
New Portland Renters Coming From Seattle
Of renters moving to Portland, the highest percentage, 21.5%, are from Seattle, according to the report. That number is followed by 5% from Los Angeles and 4.2% from Salem, Ore.
On the flip side, renters who are leaving Portland are choosing to move to Eugene (12.1%), Salem (12%), and Seattle (9.6%).
Renters moving to Seattle from Los Angeles
In the case of Seattle, the most renters, 5.4%, are moving from Los Angeles, followed by 4.1% from Portland and 3.9% from New York.
Moving out of Seattle, renters are going to Spokane, Portland and Boise City.
Where Are LA Renters Going?
In the case of Los Angeles itself, 15.,6% of renters looking to move to LA are coming from Riverside, with 11.4% from San Diego and 6% from San Francisco.
Those renters moving from Los Angeles are headed to Riverside with 16.1%, San Diego with 12.3% and Phoenix with 5.7%.
Renter-Migration Patterns Settling Down After Covid
The Apartment List report says since the COVID-19 pandemic, developments in remote work, housing affordability, and local economic growth/decline have shifted American migration patterns.
“Most notably, there have been outflows from some of the nation’s largest and most-expensive housing markets to more-affordable and less-densely populated ones. Overall migration has slowed somewhat, as have long-distance moves to a new state or a new metropolitan area,” the company’s researchers write.
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