U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration

Current Population Characteristics Geographical Mobility:

Population Reports March 1995 to March 1996

By Kristin A. Hansen

C E N S U S B U R E A U P20-497

Issued November 1997

Geographical mobility has long

been one of the predominant

factors in American life. This

report highlights some of the

important changes that have

occurred in recent years,

including changes in the volume

and rates of movement, changes

in the types of movement,

differences in the characteristics

of movers compared with

nonmovers, and changes in the

patterns of population distribution

attributable to residential

migration. These changes are

important to federal, state, and

local governments as they plan

for needed services and facilities

such as schools and hospitals.

These data are also used by

private industry to plan

expansion and location of

businesses and other services.

About 43 million moving rate. The annual mobility

Americans moved rate was around 20 percent for

most years during the 1950s Between March 1995 and

March 1996, 42.5 million and 1960s and then gradually

declined to a low of 16.6 percent Americans moved. Most of

them, 26.7 million, moved from in 1983. Following a short-term

increase in mobility rates during one residence to another within the mid-1980s (peaking at 20.2 the same county; another 8 

million moved between counties percent between March 1984

and March 1985), rates again within the same state; and 6.5 fell to the 1983 levels. The million changed states. Addition- 1996 and 1983 rates are not ally, during that one-year period, statistically different. about 1.4 million persons moved

into the United States from Most moves are local abroad.

Most movers stay in the same

county. In fact, nearly two-thirds Moving rates of the movers between March continue to decline 1995 and March 1996 made this

Despite the large number of type of “local” move. Moves

moves that occurred between which cross state lines or cross

March 1995 and March 1996, county boundaries within the

the percentage of Americans same state could be considered

who moved was only 16.3 local moves if they are within 

percent — a decline from the the same commuting area. In

rates in earlier decades. Table A this report, however, all intershows the annual mobility rates county moves are considered

for the past 5 years. While the “long-distance” moves. Movers

apparent changes in the moving are somewhat more likely to

rates from one year to the next move between counties in 

are not statistically significant, the same state (18.8 percent)

over time they add up to an than to move between states

important decline in the overall (15.2 percent).

All persons in the March

CPS sample were asked

whether or not they lived 

in the same house or

apartment one year earlier.

Nonmovers were living in 

the same house at both

dates. Movers were asked

for the location of their

previous residence. When

current and previous

residence are compared,

movers can be categorized 

as to whether they were 

living in the same or different

county, state, region, or were

movers from abroad. They

can also be categorized by

whether they moved within 

or between central cities,

suburbs, and nonmetropolitan

areas of the United States.

Abroad (3.2)

Different state

(15.2)

Different county,

same state (18.8) Same county 

(62.8)

Figure 1.

Percentage of Movers by Type of Move: 1996
2 P20-497

Young adults move old. The apparent differences in

the most the moving rates for age groups

over 65 years are not significant. The highest moving rates are

for people in their twenties as Whites move less shown in Figure 2. About onethird of people 20 to 29 years old Whites have lower overall 

moved in the previous year. This rates of moving (15.7 percent)

is twice the rate for all persons than either Blacks or Asian and

1 year and older (16.3 percent). Pacific Islanders — about 20

Moving rates continue to decline percent for both groups. Persons

1 as age increases to 21.9 percent of Hispanic origin have the 

for people 30 to 34 years old, highest rates of moving (23.0

14.1 percent for those 35 to 44 percent). These differences in

years old, 9.8 percent for those rates of moving by race and

45 to 54 years old, and 6.6 percent for people 55 to 64 years 1Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any

race, but 95.6 percent of Hispanics in the

1996 CPS reported their race as White.

ethnicity are partly the result of

the differences in age structure

among the different racial

groups. The median age of all

Whites is 35.4 years, compared

with about 30 years for both

Blacks and for Asian and Pacific

Islanders, and 26.3 years for

Hispanics.

A similar pattern is observed

for local movers; the only difference is where Asian and Pacific

Islanders rank. Whites and

Asian and Pacific Islanders have

the lowest rates of moving within

the same county, while Hispanics

have the highest rate. The rate

for Blacks is higher than the rate

for Whites and Asian and Pacific

Islanders but lower than the rate

for Hispanics.

It is difficult to discern patterns

of differences in mobility rates

among race and/or Hispanic 

origin groups for longer distance

moves. While there is no statistically significant difference in the

rates of moving between counties within the same state for

Blacks and Whites, Whites are

more likely to move to a different

state. Hispanics have much

higher rates of moving from

abroad (1.8 percent) than Blacks

or Whites, although not as high

as Asian and Pacific Islanders

(3.0 percent).

Table A. 

Annual Geographical 

(Numbers in thousands)

Total,

Mobility 1 year old

period and over

Number

Mobility 

Same

house

(nonmovers)

Rates, by Type of Move: 1996

 Different house in the United States

Different county

Total Same Same

movers Total county Total state

Different

state

Movers

from

abroad

1995–96 260,406 217,868 42,537 41,176 26,696 14,480 8,009 6,471 1,361

1994–95 258,248 215,931 42,317 41,539 27,908 13,631 7,888 5,743 778

1993–94 255,774 212,939 42,835 41,590 26,638 14,952 8,226 6,726 1,245

1992–93 252,799 209,700 43,099 41,704 26,932 14,772 7,855 6,916 1,395

1991–92 247,380

Percent

204,580 42,800 41,545 26,587 14,957 7,853 7,105 1,255

1995–96 100.0 83.7 16.3 15.8 10.3 5.6 3.1 2.5 0.5

1994–95 100.0 83.6 16.4 16.1 10.8 5.3 3.1 2.2 0.3

1993–94 100.0 83.3 16.7 16.3 10.4 5.8 3.2 2.6 0.5

1992–93 100.0 83.0 17.0 16.5 10.7 5.8 3.1 2.7 0.6

1991–92 100.0 82.7 17.3 16.8 10.7 6.0 3.2 2.9 0.5

Note: The 1992–93 data are the 1993 Survey data re-weighted to reflect the 1990-based adjusted controls; 1991-92 data 

use1980-based controls. The 1995 data are based on a different question design and are not totally comparable.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1–4 5–9 10–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–84 85+

Figure 2.

Moving Rates by Age: 1996

Percent moving

Age
P20-497 3

About 1.4 million moved previous year (33.5 percent).2 In addition, population flowed from abroad In contrast, only one in twelve from the more rural south to the

The majority of people moving persons in owner-occupied more industrialized north followfrom abroad were immigrants housing units moved in the same ing the Civil War and throughout from foreign countries and tem- period (8.2 percent). Renters the first half of this century. How- porary residents such as foreign have vastly higher rates of ever, the direction of interregional

college students. As shown in moving than owners for all migration has shifted, and in 

Table B, two-thirds of all movers types of moves. recent decades more people

from abroad were not U.S. citi- have moved from north to south

zens. Native-born movers from Tenure (owner/renter status) is than in the opposite direction.3

abroad include people coming closely related to age, race, and Flows of migrants among the

into the country from Puerto Rico Hispanic origin. Renters are, on four major regions of the United

or outlying areas of the United average, younger than home- States between 1995 and 1996

States such as the U.S. Virgin owners. The median age of all are illustrated in Figure 3.

Islands, Guam, the Northern persons living in renter-occupied

Marianas, or American Samoa; housing units was 27.9 years, Northeast has net loss

members of the U.S. Armed compared with 38.4 years for all Table C shows inmigration, persons living in owner-occupied Forces and their dependents outmigration, and net internal housing units. There are also returning from assignment migration for each of the four differences by race and Hispanic overseas; and other U.S. citizens major regions between 1995 origin. While nearly three- returning from foreign countries. and 1996. Only the net loss of quarters of Whites (71.7 percent) 234,000 shown for the Northeast and more than half of Asian and Most movers from abroad were is statistically significant. For Pacific Islanders (56.8 percent) between 20 and 64 years old each of the other three regions, lived in owner-occupied units, (66.0 percent); few were over 65 net migration is not significantly more than half of Blacks and (1.4 percent). The remainder different from zero. Hispanics were living in rental were children and teens under units (52.5 and 56.1 percent, When the movers from abroad the age of 20 (32.7 percent). respectively). Over one-third (37.5 percent) are included in the net migration

figures for each region, all were of Hispanic origin, although Regional movement regions except the Northeast Hispanics make up only 10.6 Interstate migration acts to had significant net population percent of the total population. redistribute the population among gains.4 The Northeast had While 70.5 percent of the movers the regions of the country, and enough movers from abroad to from abroad (including most of westward migration, which has offset its net loss domestically. the Hispanics) were White, long been a factor in the settle- one-fifth were Asian or Pacific 3

ment of this country, continues. Larry Long, “Migration and Residential

Islanders (21.2 percent). Mobility in the United States,” Russell Sage

Foundation, New York, NY, 1988.

2 Tenure (whether the person is living in a 4The number of people moving out of the

One-third of renters moved housing unit occupied by owners or United States is not available but the Cenrenters) has a very strong correlation with sus Bureau estimates it as only about

One-third of persons living in mobility rates. Tenure (as shown in Table 222,000 annually. See Kevin Deardorff and

D) is owner/renter status at the time of the Frederick Hollman, “U.S. Population Estirenter-occupied housing units in survey in March 1996; tenure before the mates by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Orimove is not available from the Current Pop- gin”, PPL-57, U.S. Census Bureau, Wash- March 1996 moved in the ulation Survey. ington DC 20233, March 1997.

Table B. 

Selected Characteristics of the 

Total Population and Movers 

From Abroad: 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Total Movers

Characteristics population from abroad

Number 260,406 1,361

Percent:

Native born 90.6 31.4

Foreign born 9.4 68.5

 Naturalized citizen 3.0 1.8

 Not a citizen 6.4 66.6

Under 20 years old 28.6 32.7

20 to 64 years old 59.4 66.0

65 years old or older 12.2 1.4

Hispanic 10.6 37.5

Figure 3.

Region to Region Migration: 1996

182

71

208

235

401

469

366

449 252

118

127

480
4 P20-497

Westerners move the most percent of those living there had

Westerners had the highest moved in the previous year. In

rates of moving (20.9 percent) contrast, Southerners joined

compared with people living in Westerners with higher overall

the other four regions in 1996. moving rates than the national

(See Table D for the numbers average — 17.4 percent.

of movers and type of move by

region.) The Northeast had the Regional differences exist by

lowest overall moving rate; its type of move as well. The West

rate of 11.6 percent was well had a higher percentage of local

below the national rate of 16.3 movers (13.9 percent moved

percent. People living in the within the same county) than

Midwest also had lower than found nationally, while the Northaverage moving rates — 14.3 east and the Midwest had lower

rates than average (7.5 and 8.9

percent, respectively, compared

with 10.3 percent nationally). The

rate of local moving in the South

was no different than the national

average.

Long distance moves are much

less common than local moves

regardless of region but, as with

local moves, there are differences from region to region.

The Northeast, the Midwest,

and the South all had rates of

moving between counties within

the same state (2.1, 2.8, and 3.6

percent, respectively) that were

statistically different from the 

national rate (3.1 percent). Interstate moving rates were smaller

than inter-county moves within

states for all regions except the

West. The Northeast had the

lowest interstate moving rate 

(1.5 percent), but the rate found

in the Midwest (2.3 percent) was

also lower than the rates for the

other two regions (2.9 percent).

Table C. 

Annual Inmigration, Outmigration, Net Migration, and

Movers From Abroad for Regions: 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Type of migration Northeast Midwest South West

Inmigrants 441 842 1,284 792

Outmigrants 675 775 1,134 775

 Net internal migration –234* 68 150 16

Movers from abroad 285 130 470 476

 Net migration (including abroad) 51 198* 620* 492*

* Net flow significantly different from zero at the 90–percent confidence level.

Table D. 

Geographical Mobility 

(Numbers in thousands)

by Selected Characteristics: 1996

Selected

characteristics po

Total

pulation

Same

house

(non–

movers)

Total movers

Different house in the United States

Movers

from

Total abroad

Same

county

Different county

Total

Same

state

Different

state

Age

 Total, 1 year and over 260,406 217,868 42,537 41,176 26,696 14,480 8,009 6,471 1,361

1 to 4 years 16,160 12,098 4,063 3,923 2,759 1,164 656 508 140

5 to 9 years 20,171 16,443 3,729 3,603 2,432 1,171 618 553 126

10 to 14 years 19,449 16,606 2,843 2,766 1,871 895 463 431 77

15 to 19 years 18,649 15,796 2,853 2,751 1,855 895 521 374 102

20 to 24 years 17,653 11,698 5,955 5,730 3,752 1,978 1,135 842 225

25 to 29 years 19,462 13,009 6,453 6,245 3,912 2,333 1,283 1,051 208

30 to 34 years 21,457 16,767 4,690 4,496 2,800 1,695 873 822 194

35 to 44 years 43,077 37,013 6,064 5,870 3,861 2,009 1,156 853 194

45 to 54 years 31,584 28,499 3,085 3,028 1,866 1,162 647 515 57

55 to 64 years 21,084 19,690 1,394 1,374 769 604 354 251 20

65 to 74 years 18,270 17,460 811 801 488 313 168 145 10

75 to 84 years 10,568 10,120 448 439 249 190 92 98 9

85 years and over 2,819 2,669 151 151 81 69 42 28 0

 Median age (years)

Sex

34.4 36.7 26.4 26.5 25.9 27.4 27.4 27.5 25.3

Male 127,161 105,989 21,172 20,412 13,288 7,123 3,982 3,142 760

Female

Race and Hispanic Origin

133,245 111,879 21,365 20,764 13,408 7,357 4,027 3,330 601

White 215,344 181,477 33,866 32,906 20,775 12,131 6,615 5,516 960

Black 33,294 27,040 6,255 6,149 4,511 1,637 987 651 106

Asian or Pacific Islander 9,490 7,627 1,864 1,576 1,034 542 331 211 288

Hispanic origin (of any race)

Tenure

27,729 21,340 6,389 5,878 4,713 1,165 594 571 511

In owner–occupied units 176,773 162,230 14,543 14,247 9,102 5,144 3,178 1,966 296

In renter–occupied units

Regions

83,633 55,638 27,995 26,930 17,594 9,336 4,831 4,505 1,065

Northeast 50,832 44,915 5,917 5,632 3,787 1,846 1,059 786 285

Midwest 61,044 52,340 8,703 8,573 5,440 3,133 1,713 1,420 130

South 90,909 75,050 15,858 15,388 9,475 5,912 3,315 2,598 470

West. 57,621 45,562 12,059 11,583 7,994 3,589 1,922 1,667 476
P20-497 5

Metropolitan areas had a

net loss of movers

The movement between cities,

suburbs,5 and nonmetropolitan

areas during the year was

substantial. While 1.5 million

people moved into metropolitan

areas from the nonmetropolitan

parts of the country, 1.8 million

moved out. As a result of this

movement, metropolitan areas6

as a whole had a significant

net loss. During the last ten

years, metropolitan areas in

the aggregate have had about

equal numbers of inmigrants

and outmigrants, with the

exception of 1992 to 1993 when

metropolitan areas had a net

loss of 317,000 people. During

the mid-1980s, metropolitan

areas had net gains of 300,000

to nearly half a million. Between

1987 and 1992, metropolitan

areas had no significant net

gains or losses.

Central cities lost while

the suburbs gained

The suburbs were the most

popular destinations among

movers within and between

metropolitan areas. While

metropolitan areas as a whole

had a small net loss, the cities

and suburbs that comprise the

metropolitan areas had totally

different migration patterns.

Between 1995 and 1996,

6,328,000 people moved out

of central cities while 3,893,000

moved in, resulting in a net loss

due to migration of 2,436,000

people. At the same time,

6,435,000 people moved into the

suburbs and 4,275,000 moved

out. This gave the suburbs a net

gain of 2,160,000 movers.7

5In this report, the suburbs include all territory within an MSA but outside of a central city.

6Metropolitan areas are redefined following each decennial census. The individual met- ropolitan areas were redefined in 1993 us- ing data from the 1990 decennial census. The Current Population Survey began using

these new definitions in 1995. Because of

this change, the metropolitan data in this report are not strictly comparable with data

from the 1994 or earlier reports.

7The net change and the flows for the central cities are not significantly differ- ent than those for the suburbs.

Movers to nonmetropolitan Most movers within nonmetroareas were no more likely to politan America also stayed

come from central cities than close to home. Three quarters

from the suburbs. of the 5.6 million people who

moved from one nonmetropolitan

location to another stayed Movers from abroad prefer

m within the same county. etropolitan locations

Only 105,000 movers from City or suburb? abroad went to nonmetropolitan

areas while 1,256,000 went to Three quarters of all movers

metropolitan areas. Movers from stayed in metropolitan areas, and

abroad were no more likely to more chose suburbia than the

end up in the suburbs (693,000 central cities as their destination.

persons) than in central cities While 10.8 million people moved

(563,000 persons). This was within or between central cities of

also true in the 1993-94 period, metropolitan areas, 12.7 million

but for most years during the late moved from one suburban

1980s and 1990s movers from location to another. At the same

abroad were most likely found time 5.5 million left the cities for

living in central cities. suburbia but only 3.3 million

abandoned the suburbs for

The estimated number of city life.

emigrants from the United States

each year of 222,000 is a very Source of data

small number compared to the Most estimates in this report

1.4 million gain. When movers come from data collected in

from abroad are included in the March 1996 Current Population

calculation of net migration, Survey (CPS). Some estimates

metropolitan areas had a net are based on data collected by

gain of 981,000 people the CPS in earlier years. The

compared with a net loss of Census Bureau conducts the

275,000 due to migration CPS every month but collects

within the United States. the data on residential migration

only in March.

Movers stay close to home

Over half of all movers (24 Accuracy of the estimates

million) stayed in the same All statistics are subject to

metropolitan area. In contrast, sampling error, as well as

only 8 million people moved nonsampling error such as

between metropolitan areas. survey design flaws, respondent

Table E. 

Annual Inmigration, Outmigration, Net Migration

for Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas: 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Metropolitan areas Non– metro- Central politan Type of migration Total cities Suburbs areas

Inmigrants 1,529 3,893 6,435 1,805

Outmigrants 1,805 6,328 4,275 1,529

 Net internal migration –275* –2,436* 2,160* 275*

Movers from abroad 1,256 563 693 105

 Net including movers

 from abroad 981* –1,873* 2,853* 380*

* Net flows significantly different from zero at the 90-percent confidence level.
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to independent age-race- labor force status, occupation, Mobility in the United States”

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controls partially corrects for tables are available on paper areas).

bias attributable to survey for $38 (PPL-69) from the 

undercoverage. However, Population Division’s Contacts biases exist in the estimates Statistical Information Statistical Information Staff when missed persons have Staff at 301-457-2422. pop@census.gov characteristics different from 301-457-2422 those of interviewed persons The detailed tables are 

in the same age-race-sex- also on the Internet: Kristin A. Hansen

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Look for “Migration” in the 301-457-2454

Analytical statements in this “Subjects A to Z” index. There 

report have been tested and is other migration information at User comments

meet statistical standards. How- that location including data from The Census Bureau welcomes ever, because of methodological the 1990 Census and a few time the comments and advice of differences, use caution when series tables with data from past users of our data and reports. CPS reports. Data on net comparing these data with data migration for states and counties If you have any suggestions or from other sources. Contact comments, please write to: Don Keathley, Demographic calculated as a residual from the

Census Bureau’s Population Statistical Methods Division, at Estimates program are also on Chief, Population Division 301-457-4182 or on the Internet the Internet; see “Estimates” in U.S. Bureau of the Census at dkeathley@census.gov for the “Subjects A to Z” index. Washington, DC 20233 information on the source of 

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