1

Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

P23-204

Why People Move: Exploring the

March 2000 Current Population Survey

Special Studies

March 1999

to

March 2000

Issued May 2001

Current

Population

Reports

By

Jason Schachter

Why do people move? Most social scientists agree that there are a combination of

economic and noneconomic reasons for

moving that vary depending on the time

period and the age of the movers. Previous research shows that increases in age

reduce the likelihood of moving (until retirement age) and that long-distance

moves are most common among the

highly educated. Generally, the distance of

the move is related to whether the move is

motivated by employment or housing reasons. Interregional moves are more likely

to be job-related, while intraurban moves

are more likely to be housing related.1

1For examples of this type of research, see Steve H.

Murdock. 1984. “The Relative Effects of Economic and

Noneconomic Factors on Age-Specific Migration: 1960-

1980,” Rural Sociology, 49:309-18; Peter H. Rossi and

Anne B. Shlay. 1982. “Residential Mobility and Public

Policy Issues: Why Families Move Revisited,” Journal of

Social Issues, 38:21-34; Anne S. Williams and Patrick C.

Jobes. 1990. “Economic Quality of Life Considerations in

Urban-Rural Migration,” Journal of Rural Studies, 6:187-

94.

Until recently there has been little national

data on individual reasons for moving.

Typically, researchers have viewed differences in aggregate mobility rates and

streams as a response to variations in place

characteristics. Thus, macroeconomic determinants (e.g. place level characteristics)

are often used to infer motivations for moving, which is typically viewed as a

microeconomic (individual level) phenomenon. The addition of a question on main

reason for moving to the 1998 Current

Population Survey (CPS) reduces the need

to make indirect inferences about individual

decisions to move.

In 1998, a reason for moving question was

added to the March CPS. Reason-formoving responses are collected from the

householder and for all other people 1 year

and older who moved during the past year.

Those who moved with the householder

are assigned the reason of the householder.

The reason-for-moving question offers

17 response categories, ordered under four

groupings: family, employment, housing,

and other reasons.2 Only one reason is entered for each mover, with responses to the

“other” category recorded verbatim.

Based primarily on data from the March

2000 CPS, this analysis focuses on movers

within the United States between March

1999 and March 2000, though some data

for the March 1998 and March 1999 CPS

2In 1998, there were only 15 response categories listed

on the survey instrument. Two categories were created

from the verbatim “other” responses: “wanted cheaper

housing” and “health reasons.” Additionally, the response

categories “to attend college” and “wanted better neighborhood” were modified to include “to leave college” and

“less crime.” These response categories were added to

the 1999 survey instrument.

Movers are defined as those who

were living in a different house or

apartment 1 year prior to the March

Current Population Survey. Movers

were asked for the location of their

previous residence. Movers can be

categorized as to whether they were

living in the same or different county,

state, or region, or were movers from

abroad. For the purposes of this report, moves across county boundaries are defined as long-distance

moves (intercounty migration), while

moves within counties are defined as

short-distance moves (also called

residential mobility).
2 U.S. Census Bureau

about movers in 1997-98 and and short-distance moves, for the

1998-99 will be presented as well. three time periods for which data

The report begins by comparing are available. The report then exthe overall distribution of reasons amines reasons for moving from

for moving, for both long-distance the March 2000 CPS, looking at

differences in education, employment status, household income,

and poverty status.

Most moves are for housingrelated reasons.

As shown in Table 1, between March

1999 and March 2000, the highest

percentage of people moved for

housing-related reasons (52 percent),

followed by family (26 percent) and

work-related reasons (16 percent).3

Within these major categories, most

moved for a “new/better house/

apartment” (19 percent), followed by

“other family” reasons (13 percent),

“other housing” reasons and “to own

home/not rent” (12 percent), and

then by a “new job/job transfer”

(10 percent).

3The estimates in this report are based on

responses from a sample of the population. As

with all surveys, estimates may vary from the

actual (population) values because of sampling

variation, or other factors. All statements

made in this report have undergone statistical

testing and meet U.S. Census Bureau standards

for statistical accuracy.

CPS Question on Reason for Moving

“What was [your/name] main reason for moving?”

Family-Related Reasons Housing-Related Reasons

1. Change in marital status. 9. Wanted to own home, not

2. To establish own rent.

household. 10. Wanted new or better

3. Other family reasons. house/apartment.

11. Wanted better

Employment-Related Reasons neighborhood/less crime.

12. Wanted cheaper housing. 4. New job or job transfer. 13. Other housing reason. 5. To look for work or lost

job. Other Reasons

6. To be closer to work/

easier commute. 14. To attend or leave college.

7. Retired. 15. Change of climate.

8. Other job-related reasons. 16. Health reasons.

17. Other reason (specify).

Table 1.

Reason for Moving: March 1997-1998, March 1998-1999, and March 1999-20001

(Movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

Reason for moving

Number (in thousands) Percent distribution by reason

1999-2000 1998-1999 1997-1998 1999-2000 1998-1999 1997-1998

Total movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,642 41,207 41,304 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,969 10,537 11,136 26.3 25.6 27.0

Change in marital status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,586 2,689 3,002 6.2 6.5 7.3

To establish own household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,082 3,213 3,401 7.4 7.8 8.2

Other family reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,301 4,635 4,733 12.7 11.3 11.5

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,725 6,602 7,080 16.2 16.0 17.1

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,052 3,773 4,076 9.7 9.2 9.9

To look for work/lost job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540 542 677 1.3 1.3 1.6

Closer to work/easier commute . . . . . . . . . . . 1,462 1,319 1,468 3.5 3.2 3.6

Retired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 230 241 0.4 0.6 0.6

Other job-related reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488 739 618 1.2 1.8 1.5

Housing-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,471 21,027 19,173 51.6 51.0 46.4

Wanted to own home/not rent. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,776 3,329 3,868 11.5 8.1 9.4

New/better house/apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,685 8,839 7,936 18.5 21.4 19.2

Better neighborhood/less crime . . . . . . . . . . . 1,846 1,632 1,986 4.4 4.0 4.8

Cheaper housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,303 2536 448 5.5 6.2 1.1

Other housing reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,862 4,692 4,935 11.7 11.4 11.9

Other reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,478 3,041 3,915 6.0 7.4 9.5

Attend/leave college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 944 748 719 2.3 1.8 1.7

Change of climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 325 303 0.7 0.8 0.7

Health reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464 460 234 1.1 1.1 0.6

Other reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 765 1,508 2,660 1.8 3.7 6.4

1

See text concerning changes in the survey instrument between March 1998 and March 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1998, March 1999, and March 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau 3

These results are very similar to survey instrument, since the 1998 categories. While the “other” catthose found in the 1998 and 1999 results on “cheaper housing” were egory was selected by only 2 persurveys. Rankings were the same simply coded from verbatim “other” cent of the respondents, when

among the four major groupings, write-in responses. Similarly, the combined with “other” family, job,

(1) housing, (2) family, (3) work, reduction in other “other” re- and housing reasons, these answer

(4) other, and no more than 5 per- sponses from 6 percent in 1998 to types were given by over one-quarcentage points separated results 2 percent in 2000 may be ex- ter of the respondents (27 percent),

for any of the 3 years. Among the plained by the Census Bureau’s though this number has decreased

more detailed response categories, concerted effort to have interview- since 1998 (31 percent). As a reexcept for “cheaper housing” and ers choose responses from one of sult, it is more meaningful to interother “other” reasons, no more the other preexisting 16 categories pret the data by grouping the rethan 2 percentage points separated and/or coding changes imple- sponses into the four major

any of the 1998 and 2000 results. mented for the 2000 survey. categories shown in bold in the

The response of “cheaper housing” tables. More detailed response catincreased from 1 percent in 1998 These initial results illustrate one egories are discussed when of parto 6 percent in 1999 and 2000. of the limitations of the data, par- ticular interest.

This is probably due to the addi- ticularly the high number of retion of this category to the 1999 sponses included in “other” Long-distance moves are

more likely to be made for

work-related reasons, while

short distance moves are more

likely to be made for housingrelated reasons.

For this report, moves across county

boundaries (intercounty) are called

long-distance moves, while moves

within a county (intracounty) are

called short-distance moves. Table 2

shows that between March 1999 and

March 2000, the proportion of

moves made for family-related reasons was about the same for intraand intercounty moves, but there

were dramatic differences for housing- and work-related moves. Only

6 percent of intracounty movers

cited a work-related reason, compared with 31 percent of intercounty

movers. More than two-thirds of

work-related, long-distance movers

moved for a new job or job transfer.

Conversely, 65 percent of

intracounty movers cited a housingrelated reason, compared with just

32 percent of the intercounty movers. Among housing reasons, the

largest percentage-point differential

between short- and long-distance

movers was for those moving to live

in a new or better house or apartment (24 percent to 10 percent).

Though less frequently given as the

main reason for moving, significant

Figure 1.

Reason for Moving by Type of Move: 

March 1999-2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.

(Percent distribution of movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

Family-related reasons 25.9

Work-related reasons 5.6

Housing-related reasons 65.4

Other reasons 3.0

Family-related reasons 26.9

Work-related reasons 31.1

Housing-related reasons 31.9

Other reasons 10.1

Intracounty movers

Intercounty movers
4 U.S. Census Bureau

differences were found between reasons. The data in Table 3 con- moved for family-related reasons,

intracounty and intercounty mov- firm that the greater one’s educa- compared with only 22 percent of

ers who moved to attend/leave col- tion, the greater the likelihood that those with a bachelor’s degree.

lege (0.7 percent to 4.4 percent) one moved for work-related rea- Housing-related reasons remained

and for a change of climate sons. Additionally, increases in the most frequent response given.

(0.2 percent to 1.6 percent). Simi- education decrease the likelihood

lar relationships were found in the that one moved for family-related Controlling for distance of move,

1998 and 1999 CPS. reasons. In 2000, only 14 percent one finds similar relationships,

of high school graduates moved though not nearly as strong for

for work-related reasons, compared short-distance moves. Highly edu- The highly educated are

more likely to move for work- with 25 percent of those with a cated intracounty movers are more

related reasons, especially for bachelor’s degree and 28 percent likely to have moved for worklong-distance moves. of those with a masters degree or related reasons than less educated

movers, though the differences are Education and its relationship to higher. Most of this difference

employment opportunities sug- comes from those starting a new not large (7 percent for those with

a bachelor’s degree compared with gests that educational levels are re- job, for instance, 7 percent of high

school graduates compared with 5 percent of those with less than lated to why people move, with the

highly educated more likely to 17 percent of those with bachelor’s high school education). Similarly,

move for employment-related degrees. Similarly, 31 percent of 21 percent of those with a

those with a high school education bachelor’s degree moved a short

Table 2.

Reason for Moving by Type of Move: March 1997-1998, March 1998-1999, and

March 1999-20001

(Movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

Reason for moving

Percent distribution by reason

1999-2000 1998-1999 1997-1998

Total

IntracountyIntercounty TotalIntracountyIntercounty TotalIntracountyIntercounty

Total movers . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . 26.3 25.9 26.9 25.6 25.4 25.9 27.0 27.1 26.6

Change in marital status . . . . . . . 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.6 7.3 7.6 6.6

To establish own household . . . . 7.4 9.3 4.7 7.8 9.7 4.8 8.2 10.0 4.9

Other family reason. . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 10.4 16.0 11.3 9.2 14.5 11.5 9.5 15.1

Work-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . 16.2 5.6 31.1 16.0 5.6 32.6 17.1 6.9 36.6

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 1.4 21.6 9.2 1.4 21.5 9.9 2.1 24.6

To look for work/lost job . . . . . . . 1.3 0.5 2.4 1.3 0.3 2.9 1.6 0.5 3.8

Closer to work/easier commute . 3.5 3.0 4.2 3.2 3.0 3.6 3.6 3.3 4.0

Retired.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 0.6 0.1 1.5

Other job-related reason . . . . . . . 1.2 0.6 2.0 1.8 0.7 3.6 1.5 0.8 2.8

Housing-related reasons.. . . . . . . 51.6 65.4 31.9 51.0 64.7 29.3 46.4 58.0 24.4

Wanted to own home/not rent . . 11.5 14.3 7.5 8.1 10.0 5.0 9.4 11.3 5.8

New/better house/apartment . . . 18.5 24.2 10.3 21.4 28.2 10.8 19.2 24.8 8.6

Better neighborhood/less crime . 4.4 4.8 3.9 4.0 4.4 3.3 4.8 5.3 3.8

Cheaper housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 7.5 2.8 6.2 7.8 3.6 1.1 1.4 0.5

Other housing reason . . . . . . . . . 11.7 14.7 7.4 11.4 14.3 6.7 11.9 15.2 5.7

Other reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 3.0 10.1 7.4 4.3 12.3 9.5 8.0 12.4

Attend/leave college. . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 0.7 4.4 1.8 0.5 4.0 1.7 0.8 3.6

Change of climate . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.2 1.6 0.8 0.1 1.9 0.7 0.2 1.8

Health reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 0.8 1.6 1.1 1.1 1.2 0.6 0.5 0.8

Other reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 1.3 2.5 3.7 2.7 5.2 6.4 6.5 6.3

1

See text concerning changes in the survey instrument between March 1998 and March 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1998, March 1999, and March 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau 5

distance for family-related reasons, higher education groups to have Economists believe labor

compared with 30 percent of high moved to look for work or because moves from areas of lower to

areas of higher economic school graduates. they had lost a job (4 percent of opportunity. those with less than a high school

However, for longer distance education compared with 1 percent Classical economic theory views

moves the differences are greater. of those with a graduate degree). geographical mobility as an equiliWork-related reasons have a posi- brating mechanism that redistribtive monotonic relationship with There was an inverse monotonic re- utes people and wealth.4 Workers

education, ranging from 18 percent lationship between education and move from areas where jobs are

of those with less than a high family-related reasons for moving, dwindling to areas where workers

school education to 47 percent of ranging from 33 percent of those are needed. Human capital econothose with a graduate degree. with less than a high school educa- mists see longer distance moves as

Many of these work-related moves tion to 16 percent of those with a economic investments to achieve

were to start a new job, ranging graduate degree. Most of this varia- higher wages.5 Thus, the poor and

from 9 percent for those with less tion was in the “other” family reathan a high school education to sons category, with just 7 percent of

37 percent for those with a gradu- movers with a graduate degree offer- 4Michael Greenwood. 1986. “Human Migration: Theory, Models, and Empirical Studies,” ate degree. Lower education ing this response compared with Journal of Regional Science, 25:521-44.

groups were more likely than 22 percent of those with less than a 5Kathryn L. Shaw. 1991. “The Influence of

Human Capital Investment on Migration and high school education. Industry Change,” Journal of Regional Science,

31:397-416.

Table 3.

Reason for Moving by Educational Attainment and Type of Move: March 1999-2000

(Movers within the United States, age 18 and older)

Reason for moving1

Total

Less than

high school

education

High

school

graduate

Some

college

Associate

degree Bachelor’s

Master’s/

professional/

doctorate

Total movers (thousands) . . . . . . 30,353 5,085 9,564 6,571 2,126 5,144 1,863

Percent of total movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.5 27.4 30.8 25.9 25.8 21.5 18.3

Other family reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 15.7 13.9 10.5 10.5 7.5 6.7

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.4 9.7 13.9 14.4 19.6 24.8 28.0

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 4.0 7.1 8.7 10.7 17.4 20.4

To look for work/lost job. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 2.4 1.5 0.8 1.9 0.9 0.5

Housing-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . 50.1 57.7 48.9 49.7 49.5 46.5 46.8

Other reasons.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 5.3 6.4 10.1 5.1 7.3 6.9

Intracounty movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,493 3,297 5,734 3,879 1,178 2,533 872

Percent of intracounty movers . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.5 24.5 30.4 27.8 23.6 21.2 21.3

Other family reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 12.1 11.6 8.9 7.0 5.3 6.6

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 5.2 6.2 4.6 8.4 7.1 6.8

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 1.2 1.6 1.5 2.1 1.4 1.3

To look for work/lost job. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

Housing-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . 64.0 67.0 60.0 62.7 65.1 68.9 70.2

Other reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 3.4 3.5 5.0 2.9 2.8 1.8

Intercounty movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,860 1,788 3,829 2,691 948 2,611 992

Percent of intercounty movers . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.4 32.8 31.3 23.1 28.6 21.7 15.7

Other family reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.5 22.3 17.4 12.7 14.7 9.7 6.7

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.7 17.9 25.4 28.6 33.6 42.0 46.7

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.9 9.1 15.3 19.0 21.3 32.8 37.2

To look for work/lost job. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 4.2 2.9 1.5 4.1 1.7 1.0

Housing-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . 31.1 40.6 32.5 30.9 30.2 24.7 26.3

Other reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.9 8.7 10.8 17.4 7.7 11.6 11.4

1

Complete reasons for moving data available in table package. See section entitled ‘‘More Information.’’

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.
6 U.S. Census Bureau

unemployed should be particularly

drawn to areas of economic opportunity, though they may face barriers, such as moving costs.

The unemployed are not more

likely than the employed to

move for work-related reasons.

Differentials for work-related reasons for moving are not as strong

as economic theory suggests. Reasons for moving are quite similar

for the employed and unemployed,

with no more than 6 percentage

points separating the groups on

any of the major categories (Table

4). Within work-related reasons,

10 percent of the employed moved

for a new job, compared with just

6 percent of the unemployed, while

only 1 percent of the employed

moved to find work, compared

with 4 percent of the unemployed.

However, the labor force status of

the individual was determined at

Table 4.

Reason for Moving by Employment Status: March 1999-2000

(Movers within the United States, age 16 and older)

Reason for moving Total Employed Unemployed

Not in labor

force

Total movers (thousands). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,567 22,285 1,459 7,824

Percent of movers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.8 26.5 32.3 26.4

Change in marital status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 7.5 4.4 4.9

To establish own household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 8.5 9.7 6.3

Other family reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.1 10.5 18.2 15.3

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.8 17.2 13.9 12.2

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 10.4 6.2 6.5

To look for work/lost job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 1.2 4.3 1.2

Closer to work/easier commute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 4.1 2.4 2.1

Retired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 0.2 0.2 1.7

Other job-related reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 1.4 0.7 0.8

Housing-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.5 50.9 46.0 50.2

Wanted to own home/not rent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5 12.8 7.1 8.5

New/better house/apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.8 18.4 15.1 16.6

Better neighborhood/less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 4.0 3.5 4.5

Cheaper housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 5.2 6.4 6.6

Other housing reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.5 10.5 13.9 13.9

Other reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.0 5.4 7.9 11.2

Attend/leave college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 2.7 2.4 3.4

Change of climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8 0.7 1.1 0.9

Health reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 0.4 0.8 3.9

Other reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 1.6 3.6 3.0

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.

Figure 2.

Reason for Moving by Educational Status and 

Type of Move: March 1999-2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.

(Percent distribution of movers with the United States, age 18 and older)

5.3 6.9

3.4 1.8

8.7 11.4

57.7

46.8

67.0 70.2

40.6

26.3

9.7 28.0

5.2 6.8

17.9

46.7

27.4

18.3 24.5 21.3

32.8

15.7

Other

reasons

Housingrelated

reasons

Work-related

reasons

Family-related

reasons

Graduate/

professional

degree

Less

than

high

school

Graduate/

professional

degree

Less

than

high

school

Graduate/

professional

degree

Less

than

high

school

Total

movers

Intracounty

movers

Intercounty

movers
U.S. Census Bureau 7

the time of the survey, while a come $75,000 and over (Table 5). 4 percent of those living in housemove could have taken place any Most of this variation came from holds with income $75,000 and

time during the previous year. those moving for a new job, which over. Housing-related reasons reThus, it is possible that some was 5 percent of those living in mained relatively consistent across

people who were unemployed households with income under most income groups and were the

when they moved, but subse- $10,000, 9 percent of those living most frequently given reasons.

quently found a job, are not repre- in households with income of

sented as unemployed moving for $30,000 to $39,999, and 14 per- The nonpoor are more likely

a work-related reason. cent of those living in households than the poor to move for

with income $75,000 and over. work-related reasons, while

the poor are more likely than Lower income groups are Conversely, lower income groups the nonpoor to move for less likely than higher income family-related reasons. groups to move for work- were more likely than higher inrelated reasons. come groups to move for family For the poverty status of individuals,

reasons. Among people living in the results are the same as those The relationship between house- households with income under found for household income, with hold income and reason for moving $10,000, 33 percent moved for work-related reasons having less followed different patterns, with family-related reasons, compared importance than economic theory higher income groups more likely with 23 percent of those living in would predict, and family reasons to move for work-related reasons

households with income $75,000 being stronger than anticipated. and lower income groups less likely and over. The greatest variation in Housing reasons were still the most to move for these same reasons.

this category was among those important reason for both groups, For work-related reasons, values

moving to establish their own given by about 50 percent of the ranged from 11 percent of those household, ranging from 11 per- nonpoor and the poor (Table 6). living in households with income cent of those living in households Work-related reasons were less under $10,000, to 20 percent of with income under $10,000 to important, as 17 percent of the those living in households with inTable 5.

Reason for Moving by Household Income: March 1999-2000

(Movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

Reason for moving

Total

Less

than

$10,000

$10,000

to

$19,999

$20,000

to

$29,999

$30,000

to

$39,999

$40,000

to

$49,999

$50,000

to

$59,999

$60,000

to

$74,999

$75,000

and

over

Total movers (thousands). . . . . 41,330 3,618 5,990 5,916 5,337 4,511 3,738 3,930 8,290

Percent of movers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . 26.4 32.6 28.8 27.0 27.1 26.3 26.2 22.1 23.3

Change in marital status . . . . . . . . . 6.2 5.6 4.3 6.3 6.9 6.6 6.6 5.9 7.3

To establish own household . . . . . . 7.4 11.3 11.8 8.1 7.6 7.8 5.8 5.3 3.6

Other family reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.8 15.8 12.7 12.6 12.7 12.0 13.8 10.9 12.5

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1 10.7 12.7 15.1 15.2 18.0 18.3 16.6 20.0

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 4.6 6.7 7.0 8.6 10.6 12.9 11.9 14.0

To look for work/lost job . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 2.4 1.2 2.4 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.3 0.7

Closer to work/easier commute . . . 3.5 1.9 3.8 3.9 4.5 4.7 3.4 2.3 3.1

Retired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.0

Other job-related reason . . . . . . . . . 1.2 1.8 0.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.2

Housing-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . 51.6 48.5 50.4 51.9 52.0 49.5 50.0 57.2 52.4

Wanted to own home/not rent. . . . . 11.5 3.7 5.3 7.7 13.4 12.4 14.2 18.9 15.8

New/better house/apartment . . . . . . 18.5 17.3 16.5 19.8 19.3 16.9 18.4 18.6 19.9

Better neighborhood/less . . . . . . . . . 4.5 4.9 6.2 5.6 2.8 4.6 4.4 3.5 3.7

Cheaper housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 7.5 9.0 7.9 4.8 4.5 2.9 5.1 2.6

Other housing reason. . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 15.1 13.5 11.1 11.7 11.1 10.1 11.0 10.5

Other reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9 8.2 8.1 6.0 5.7 6.2 5.6 4.2 4.2

Attend/leave college . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 2.8 3.5 2.8 1.8 2.6 1.5 1.6 1.7

Change of climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.5 1.1 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.6 0.3 0.8

Health reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 2.4 1.5 1.4 0.7 1.1 1.0 0.6 0.6

Other reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 2.4 2.0 1.2 2.7 1.4 2.5 1.6 1.1

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.
8 U.S. Census Bureau

nonpoor and just 12 percent of the

poor gave this response. Familyrelated reasons were more likely to

be given by the poor, as 31 percent

cited such reasons for their move,

compared with 25 percent of the

nonpoor. These differences between

the poor and nonpoor exist for longdistance moves and, to a lesser extent, for short-distance moves.

Among long-distance movers,

work-related reasons were more

important for the nonpoor (33 percent) than the poor (23 percent),

while family reasons were more important for the poor (32 percent)

than the nonpoor (26 percent).

Most of the variation in familyrelated reasons between the poor

and nonpoor came from the poor

citing other family reasons for their

move. The largest share of the

Figure 3.

Reason for Moving by Poverty Status: March 1999-2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.

(Percent distribution of movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

5.5 7.7

52.0 49.8

17.3 11.6

25.2 30.8

Other

reasons

Housing-related

reasons

Work-related

reasons

Family-related

reasons

Nonpoor Poor

Table 6.

Reason for Moving by Poverty Status and Type of Move: March 1999-2000

(Movers within the United States, age 1 and older)

Reason for moving

All movers Intracounty movers Intercounty movers

Total Nonpoor Poor Total Nonpoor Poor Total Nonpoor Poor

Total movers (thousands). . . . . 41,642 33,385 8,257 24,399 19,013 5,386 17,243 14,372 2,871

Percent of movers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family-related reasons . . . . . . . . . . . 26.3 25.2 30.8 25.9 24.7 30.2 26.9 25.9 31.8

Change in marital status . . . . . . . . . 6.2 6.6 4.6 6.2 6.7 4.7 6.2 6.6 4.4

To establish own household . . . . . . 7.4 6.6 10.9 9.3 8.3 12.8 4.7 4.2 7.2

Other family reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 12.1 15.4 10.4 9.8 12.8 16.0 15.2 20.2

Work-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.2 17.3 11.6 5.6 5.7 5.4 31.1 32.6 23.3

New job/job transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 10.8 5.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 21.6 23.3 12.8

To look for work/lost job . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 1.0 2.6 0.5 0.3 1.2 2.4 1.9 5.0

Closer to work/easier commute . . . 3.5 3.8 2.2 3.0 3.3 2.0 4.2 4.5 2.7

Retired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.9 1.0 0.6

Other job-related reason . . . . . . . . . 1.2 1.1 1.3 0.6 0.6 0.9 2.0 1.9 2.1

Housing-related reasons. . . . . . . . . . 51.6 52.0 49.8 65.4 67.0 59.8 31.9 32.1 31.2

Wanted to own home/not rent. . . . . 11.5 13.2 4.5 14.3 17.0 4.6 7.5 8.2 4.3

New/better house/apartment . . . . . . 18.5 18.7 17.7 24.2 24.9 21.7 10.3 10.3 10.1

Better neighborhood/less crime . . . 4.4 4.1 5.8 4.8 4.3 6.5 3.9 3.8 4.6

Cheaper housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 5.0 7.7 7.5 6.9 9.5 2.8 2.5 4.3

Other housing reason. . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 11.1 14.2 14.7 13.9 17.5 7.4 7.3 7.9

Other reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 5.5 7.7 3.0 2.6 4.6 10.1 9.4 13.7

Attend/leave college . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 2.0 3.2 0.7 0.5 1.6 4.4 4.1 6.3

Change of climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.6 1.6 1.3

Health reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.0 1.4 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.6 1.4 2.3

Other reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 1.7 2.6 1.3 1.2 1.9 2.5 2.3 3.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau 9

work-related variation came from portance of making a theoretical and of the national population by age,

the nonpoor moving for a new job empirical distinction between resi- race, sex, and Hispanic origin.

(23 percent versus 13 percent). In dential mobility and migration when This weighting partially corrects for

contrast, 5 percent of the poor analyzing reason for moving data. bias due to undercoverage, but

moved to look for work or because how it affects different variables in

of a lost job, compared with just SOURCE OF DATA the survey is not precisely known.

2 percent of the nonpoor. Moreover, biases may also be

present when people who are The Current Population Survey (CPS) Among short-distance movers, missed in the survey differ from

work-related differences are not is a monthly national survey of those interviewed in ways other about 50,000 households, represen- statistically different between the than the categories used in weight- tative of the civilian noninstitutional poor and nonpoor (5.4 percent and ing (age, race, sex, and Hispanic U.S. population, conducted by the 5.7 percent, respectively). Housing origin). All of these considerations U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Bu- reasons were most important for affect comparisons across different reau of Labor Statistics. While the both groups though more so for surveys or data sources. CPS is the primary source of labor the nonpoor (67 percent to 60 perforce characteristics of the U.S. cent). Most of the variation be- For further information on statistipopulation, it also collects data on a tween the two groups resulted cal standards and the computation

number of demographic topics. The from the nonpoor wanting to own and use of standard errors, contact

March survey includes questions on their own home (17 percent to Doug Mayfield, Demographic Statiswhether the respondents and other 5 percent). Not surprisingly, the tical Methods Division, at

household members moved during poor were more likely than the 301-457-4220 or e-mail at

the previous year. nonpoor to have moved for Douglas.S.Mayfield@census.gov.

cheaper housing (10 percent to

7 percent). ACCURACY OF ESTIMATES MORE INFORMATION

Statistics from sample surveys are Data on why people move are also CONCLUSIONS subject to sampling and nonsam- collected by the American Housing

pling error. All comparisons pre- These results show that the distance Survey (AHS). Data for recent years

sented in this report have taken of a move is strongly related to the are available in tabular format on

sampling error into account and reason an individual moves. Longer the Internet. These tables can be

meet the U.S. Census Bureau’s stan- distance moves are more likely to be accessed from the AHS Web addards for statistical significance. associated with work-related rea- dress (www.census.gov/hhes/www/

Nonsampling errors in surveys may sons, while shorter distance moves ahs.html).

be attributed to a variety of sources, are more likely to be associated with

such as how the survey was de- housing-related reasons. Socioeco- A package of tables showing more

signed, how respondents interpret nomic characteristics like education detailed characteristics of reasons

questions, how able and willing re- and income tend to yield similar rela- for moving from the CPS is availspondents are to provide correct an- tionships, with lower education and able from the Census Bureau.

swers, and how accurately answers income groups more likely to move Characteristics include age, sex,

are coded and classified. The Cen- for family reasons and less likely to race, Hispanic origin, educational

move for work-related reasons than sus Bureau employs quality control attainment, labor force status, povprocedures throughout the produc- higher education and income erty status, and income.

tion process — including the overall groups. Work-related reasons were

design of surveys, testing the word- This set of detailed tables (PPL- not as important for movement of

ing of questions, review of the work 139) is available on paper for the poor as economic theory sugof interviewers and coders, and sta- $24.60. To receive a copy, send a gests, with housing-related reasons

tistical review of reports. request for “PPL-139, Why People taking precedence for this group, Move: Exploring the March 1998 to and family reasons being more im- The CPS employs ratio estimation, 2000 Current Population Survey,” portant for the poor than the whereby sample estimates are along with a check or money order nonpoor. These data show the im- adjusted to independent estimates in amount of $24.60 payable to
10 U.S. Census Bureau

Commerce-Census, to U.S. Depart- The electronic version of these USER COMMENTS

ment of Commerce, U.S. Census tables is available on the Internet The Census Bureau welcomes the

Bureau, P.O. Box 277943, Atlanta, (www.census.gov). Once on the site, comments and advice of users of

GA 30384-7943, or call the Popula- under “Subjects A to Z,” click on “M,” our data and reports. If you have tion Division’s Statistical Informa- then select “Migration.” There is any suggestions or comments, tion Office on 301-457-2422. A other migration information at that please write to: copy of these tabulations will be location including data from the

made available to any existing Cur- 1990 Census and time series tables Chief, Population Division

rent Population Report, P20 sub- with data from past CPS reports. U.S. Census Bureau

scriber without charge, provided Washington, D.C. 20233-8800

that the request is made within CONTACTS

3 months of the issue date of this or send e-mail to: pop@census.gov Statistical Information Staff report. pop@census.gov

301-457-2422

Jason Schachter

jason.p.schachter@census.gov

301-457-2454