Census: More People on the Move in 2009

Daily Real Estate News | May 12, 2010

Americans stayed put for about a year after the housing bust, but now they are back on the move, according to U.S. Census figures.

About 12.5 percent of the population, or 37.1 million people moved to a new home in 2009, up from 11.9 percent or 35.2 million in 2008, the census found.

About 25 percent of adults ages 25 to 34 moved in 2009. That’s up slightly compared to 2008, but down substantially from 32 percent in 2000. Older Americans also stayed where they were with long-distance migration falling to below 2 percent for people older than 60.

"Overall, there is nothing here that suggests a light at the end of the tunnel in the continued slowdown of long distance migration in the U.S.," said William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution who analyzed the numbers. "States and communities hoping to see renewed migration gains in college graduates, retirees and families as a spark to their economic growth will continue to be disappointed."

Source: The Associated Press, Hope Yen (05/10/2010)