Top Moving Industry Statistics in 2025
Shifting is one of the most stressful and tiresome task, as it takes a huge toll on one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. However, shifting can be equally promising as you can get better job opportunities, education, and a better standard of living. As of 2020-21, over one-third of the people living in urban areas had migrated from somewhere else, which clearly shows how many people shift within India.
Shifting is not limited to moving within India as every year lakhs of people shift to another country. People hire movers in USA, Canada, UK, and other countries to shift seamlessly. The Shifting Industry in India has grown massively in the past few years. The moving industry affects various other industries as well as it is interconnected with them.
To better understand the functioning of the shifting industry, below are some incredible statistics related to the shifting industry.
Table of Contents
General Moving Industry Statistics
- Around 31 million Americans move every year, which is about 10% of the population.
- The moving industry in the U.S. generates approximately $86 billion in revenue annually.
- In 2021, 11.4% of men shifted to another location, the shifting rate for women was 47.7%.
- According to Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) data, 17.29% of the moves were state-to-state, which means that in 2021 close to 4.8 million Americans made interstate moves in 2021.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, approximately 15.3 million American households relocate annually.
- The average American moves 11.7 times in their lifetime.
- Since the 1960s there has been a decline in shifting as from nearly 20% of the population moving each year to around 10% today.
- Out of all moves, 38% are corporate moves.
How much does Shifting Cost?
Most people are interested in knowing the shifting charges. So, here are the statistics related to shifting cost:
- 21% of Americans went into debt just to manage their recent move, which shows how expensive shifting has become.
- The local shifting charges in USA vary from $65 to $250 per hour.
- The average charges for interstate move is $4,100.
- Close to 55% of people admitted to underestimating their moving costs by an average of $545.
How do People Prefer to Move?
During shifting everyone has different plans on how they will move. Here are the most popular options people prefer.
- Around 37.5% people shift on their own but rent a moving truck.
- Close to 24.2% opt for a complete DIY move.
- Approximately 22.7% people hire professional packers and movers.
- Close to 15.7% people move themselves, but use moving containers.
When people Shift?
When we look at the shifting statistics we can observe that is a clear pattern on when people shift. Here are the statistics that shed light on the timings of the move:
- 60% of all moves are conducted from May to August as it is the peak moving season.
- June is the most common month to move.
- The busiest dates to move are June 1st and 30th, while September 1st and 30th come in slightly behind.
- January is the least preferred month for shifting, followed by February and December.
What Is the Most Common Day of the Week to Move?
Surprisingly, Mondays top the list as the most common moving day, with 19% of all moves happening on this day. While weekends are often thought to be the busiest time for moving, the data tells a different story. Here’s a breakdown of moves by the day of the week:
- Sunday: 8%
- Monday: 19%
- Tuesday: 12%
- Wednesday: 16%
- Thursday: 13%
- Friday: 17%
- Saturday: 15%
This shows that while weekends are still a popular choice, weekdays, particularly Monday, see a significant share of moves.
Where Do People Move?
In 2021, most moves were local, with more than half of all relocations happening within the same county. The majority of movers stayed within their state, showing a preference for shorter-distance moves. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- 59.17% moved within the same county (same state).
- 21.3% moved to a different county (same state).
- 17.29% moved to a different state.
- 2.24% moved to a different country.
How Far Are People Moving?
The average distance moved in 2021 was 922 miles, reflecting an increase in long-distance and interstate relocations. Here’s a detailed look at the distances travelled:
- 28.5% moved 1–100 miles.
- 4.1% moved 100–500 miles.
- 16% moved 500–1,000 miles.
- 23.7% moved 1,000–2,000 miles.
- 17.7% moved over 2,000 miles.
Top States for Long-Distance Moves
Interstate moves from Alaska and Hawaii accounted for the farthest relocations, averaging over 3,500 miles. Meanwhile, residents of West Virginia, Delaware, and Mississippi moved the shortest interstate distances:
- Alaska: 3,727 miles
- Hawaii: 3,590 miles
- Washington: 2,042 miles
- West Virginia: 878 miles
- Delaware: 892 miles
- Mississippi: 915 miles
Busiest State-to-State Moving Routes
According to 2021 data, the most common state-to-state relocations largely originated from California. These are the top routes:
- California to Texas
- California to New York
- New York to Florida
- California to Florida
- California to Washington
- New York to California
- 16% of renters moved in 2021, a significant drop from 32.5% in 1990.
- 4.9% of homeowners moved in 2021, compared to 9.1% in 1990.
- Being closer to family: 28%
- Moving to a safer home: 25%
- Expanding family size: 22%
- Relocating for a new job: 18%
- Nearly 50% of moving companies are small businesses with fewer than five employees.
- The transportation and warehousing sector employed around 6.6 million people as of August 2024.
- There are Approximately 50,000 moving trucks in the USA.
- Approximately 122,600 people are employed within the USA in the moving industry.
- The combine salaries of people employed in the shifting industry exceeds $3.5 billion.
- Eco-friendly shifting options are gaining 30% more attraction in the last two years.
- Top Moving Industry Statistics in 2025 - December 6, 2024
- Top 12 Reasons to Move to Bangalore - November 8, 2024
- Griha Pravesh Muhurat 2025: Month-wise Dates and Timing - October 5, 2024
Which States Are People Moving To?
What was the most Moved-To State in 2020:
Florida topped the list with a net domestic migration gain of 220,890, making it the most popular destination for movers.
What was the most Moved-To States in 2021:
In 2021, the states attracting the highest volume of movers were Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. These states consistently rank among the most popular due to factors like favourable climates, job opportunities, and affordable living.
Who is Shifting?
In 2021, the average age of movers was 36.5 years, and 62% of households that moved had at least one member under the age of 18.
Renters vs. Homeowners: Who Moves More?
Historically, renters have been more likely to move than homeowners, though the overall rate of moving has declined over the years:
Interestingly, homeownership among movers increased by 11% between 2020 and 2021, reflecting a trend toward stability and property ownership during the pandemic era.
Why People Shift?
Shifting is an exhausting task but there are various reasons that people decide to shift. Here’s why people shift:
A recent report by Porch highlights that 64% of movers in 2021 relocated due to a major life event. The most common triggers included:
Buying a vehicle: 26% Starting a new job: 21% Graduating from college or university: 13%The primary driver for moving, however, was upsizing to a larger home, with 35% of movers citing the need to accommodate their growing families.
Other significant reasons for relocating include:
Employment in Moving
The moving industry promotes a lot of employment as a lot of workforce is included in the shifting process. Here are the statistics on employment in shifting:
Conclusion
The above statistics provide an in-depth analysis of the moving industry. The shifting industry is one of the fastest growing industries as more and more people are opting to hire professional movers to enjoy a seamless and stress-free move.