These two cities have topped the list for three straight years
New Study: Americans Are Moving to These 2 Southern Cities (And They’re Not in Florida!)
Updated on May 29, 2025
Over the past handful of years, our country has endured more than a few shakeups. The pandemic changed how we live and work, with remote work and four-day workweeks becoming increasingly common. These shifts helped people prioritize what’s important—long commutes are out, prioritizing health routines and time with family is in.
We’ve also had natural disasters, economic uncertainty and a challenging political climate. Combined, these changes contribute to a mobilized population, with many Americans settling in unexpected places. Some of the longtime hotspots, such as Florida, have become less popular, while other regions attract new residents in large numbers.
Where exactly is everyone moving? According to PODS’s 2025 moving trends report, more people are relocating to two Southern cities for the third year in a row. Read on to learn where they are.
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Which cities are people relocating to?
For a record-setting third year, more people are relocating to the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/Wilmington, North Carolina area than anywhere else in the U.S. These two cities are distinct places—with about 70 miles between them—but they’re in the same geographic region along the Atlantic coast.
“Geographically, these areas are close, and while they’re both in the South, they also have four distinct seasons, which many Northerners appreciate,” explains Carole Legrain, the broker/owner of Porters Neck Real Estate in Wilmington. Legrain says that while both cities experience changing seasons, culturally, they’re different, with Myrtle Beach favoring a more touristy vibe.
Mike Hill, an agent at Grand Strand Homes & Land Realty and president of Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors, agrees. “I’m not surprised they lumped the two cities together, though there are some distinctions,” Hill says. “Myrtle Beach is more of a beach destination—I mean, beach is right in the name!—while Wilmington is more of a city with beaches nearby.”
Why are people moving to the Carolinas?
Most people want to reduce stress, and living in one of the least stressed states is a good strategy. The Carolinas boast spectacular beaches—but that’s just the first reason so many people are moving to these two Southern states.
Lower cost of living
Although coastal cities like Wilmington and Myrtle Beach tend to be more costly, both North Carolina and South Carolina have a lower cost of living compared with other states. In fact, Myrtle Beach is often considered one of the most budget-friendly beach destinations in the country.
According to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, North Carolina’s cost of living is 5% lower than the national average, and housing is 14% lower. In South Carolina, the cost of living is 9% lower than the national average, and housing is 18% lower.
Legrain says that even though home prices in Wilmington have increased significantly—Zillow reports a median sales price bump of $60,000 over the past year—people from the north still find the city affordable. Property taxes are significantly lower than in many other states, especially those in the Northeast, where many residents have relocated from.
Job opportunities
Not surprisingly, real estate is a booming field in Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. “Close to 5,000 agents belong to Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors,” Hill says. Tourism and hospitality are also significant economic drivers in Myrtle Beach, and Hill says there’s very little offseason these days, with tons of people visiting Myrtle Beach to golf in the fall and spring—when it’s less busy and not as hot as the summer—while beach season is primarily May to September.
In Wilmington, Legrain notes that Novant Health, New Hanover Regional Medical Center and the University of North Carolina Wilmington are major employers, however remote work has significantly expanded opportunities for people to live where they want without feeling tied to a job. Wilmington has also served as a film production hub since the 1980s—producing feature films, TV series and independent productions. In 2024, more than 55 productions were filmed in the state, generating more than $300 million in in-state spending, and Wilmington Independent Film Production, Inc. expects 2025 to be a record or near-record year for filming in Wilmington.
Access to outdoor activities
Both Wilmington and Myrtle Beach have ample golf courses and tennis facilities, and as Legrain says, “You have to include pickleball nowadays!”
For folks who enjoy water sports, this area has it all: Fishing, surfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and sailing. “We are near to both the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, giving people access to both saltwater and freshwater activities,” Hill says.
“Bald Head Island [in North Carolina] is my go-to,” Legrain says, adding that when she has visitors, she always drives them to Southport and catches the ferry to car-free Bald Head Island, where they rent a golf cart or bikes for a day of adventuring.
For folks who want to combine outdoor activity with food and entertainment, Hill raved about Murrell’s Inlet MarshWalk, a boardwalk that features a lively restaurant scene.
Southern hospitality
If you wonder about moving to a smaller town and feeling like an outsider, that’s not something you have to worry about in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, which both attract residents from all over. Both Legrain and Hill are transplants themselves.
Legrain is originally from Belgium but lived in New York before moving to Wilmington 20 years ago. Hill is from Delaware, but he lived in Atlanta and Northern Virginia before moving to South Carolina.
“People are very cosmopolitan and from everywhere,” Legrain says. “Everyone is so friendly.”
Where else are people moving?
Seven of the top 20 cities are in the Carolinas, which is really saying something, and only a few aren’t in the South. If you’re finding yourself seeking a slower pace of life—and maybe giving up your snow shovel—take a look at this list.
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/Wilmington, North Carolina (1st in 2024)
- Ocala, Florida (2nd in 2024)
- Raleigh, North Carolina (6th in 2024)
- Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (4th in 2024)
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (not ranked in 2024)
- Charlotte, North Carolina (5th in 2024)
- Boise, Idaho (11th in 2024)
- Knoxville, Tennessee (8th in 2024)
- Nashville, Tennessee (13th in 2024)
- Jacksonville, Florida (9th in 2024)
- Chattanooga, Tennessee (not ranked in 2024)
- Huntsville, Alabama (16th in 2024)
- Portland, Maine (12th in 2024)
- Johnson City, Tennessee (15th in 2024)
- Spokane, Washington (not ranked in 2024)
- Atlanta, Georgia (14th in 2024)
- Greensboro, North Carolina (20th in 2024)
- Asheville, North Carolina (10th in 2024)
- San Antonio, Texas (not ranked in 2024)
- Dover, Delaware (17th in 2024)
Why is Florida no longer a top destination?
One of the more shocking changes to PODS’s list is how many Florida locations dropped below the top 20 spots. Ocala and Jacksonville have been in the top 10 the past two years—with Ocala in the No. 2 spot for the past two years—but the two cities actually made this list’s top move-out cities this year, signaling a big shift for Florida.
Why the change of heart? One of the most prominent considerations has been the weather and the skyrocketing insurance rates. Each hurricane season, Florida is expected to experience an average of 12 named storms, but according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2025 is predicted to be an above-normal season, with 13 to 19 named storms expected.
The Carolinas get hit by hurricanes, but the frequency and level of damage is nothing like Florida. Hurricane activity plays a huge role in Florida’s increased insurance rates, and a recent report shows that the Sunshine State has the highest rates in the U.S. Ocala is inland and somewhat protected from significant damage and the resulting high costs.
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Sources:
- PODS: “PODS Moving Trends Report: Where Are People Moving to (and From) in 2025?”
- Mike Hill, agent at Grand Strand Homes & Land Realty and president of Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors, Myrtle Beach, SC
- Carole Legrain, broker/owner of Porters Neck Real Estate, Wilmington, NC
- Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina: “If You’re All in, It’s All in North Carolina”
- RentCafe: “Cost of Living in North Carolina”
- RentCafe: “Cost of Living in South Carolina”
- Zillow: “Wilmington, NC Housing Market”
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: “NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season”
