New Study Finds Moving Is Costly, Stressful — And Could Ruin Your Relationship

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Along with losing a job and getting divorced, moving is one of life's most stressful experiences, according to a new study from Anytime Estimate. Enduring the stress of moving, however, comes with the promise of new opportunities.

But, the study of 1,000 Americans who moved in 2024 revealed many people might be better off staying where they are. Although 54% of movers thought a change of location would solve their problems, 29% weren't happier in their new home.

The cost of moving is one of the main reasons Americans said the experience was stressful. The average move in 2024 cost just over $2,000. 

Of course, distance mattered when it came to the cost of a move. For those who moved more than 100 miles away, the average cost was $3,291. Those who moved fewer than 100 miles away spent an average of $1,666.

Determining moving costs isn’t as straightforward as calculating real estate commissions. It's a complex and fluid process, with 78% experiencing unexpected costs during their move. 

Forty-four percent of respondents said the total cost of their move surprised them, while 38% said the total cost was higher than expected. It's no wonder 60% said moving was not affordable.

Movers who spent the least amount of money to relocate tended to have a more positive experience. On a scale of 1 to 10, those who rated their move as a 9 or 10 spent an average of $1,783, while those who rated their move as a five or below spent an average of $2,123.

The emotional stress of moving may dissipate upon arrival at the final destination, but the financial consequences linger for many people. Thirty-nine percent of those who moved said moving made their financial situation worse. 

As the cost of moving increases, common sense measures — such as comparing moving company quotes or seeking home buyer rebates — may become more important ways to keep the costs down. 

About 92% of respondents faced challenges during their move, and 82% said moving was stressful. More than a third of people said moving was more stressful than planning a wedding, 29% said moving was more stressful than having a baby, and 19% said it was more stressful than getting a divorce.

The most stressful part of moving was packing, according to 34% of respondents. About 36% said it was also the most dreaded part of moving, while 37% said it was the most difficult part. It's likely one of the most hated tasks because 43% said it was the most time-consuming aspect of moving.

Packing was such an unpleasant activity that many Americans put off unpacking. More than a quarter of movers said it took them more than a month to unpack, while 25% said they still haven’t fully unpacked.

Moving can also be tough on relationships. More than a quarter of people said moving caused conflict with loved ones, and 17% said their move hurt their relationship.

In many cases, the burden of moving wasn’t shared equally, which caused resentment. Forty-four percent of Americans said they prioritized other people’s happiness over their own during their move, and 18% said they felt their partner didn’t do their fair share of the labor. That could be why 14% said moving caused them to resent their partner.

Women were more likely to feel dissatisfied with how their move was handled. They were about twice as likely as men to say their relationship is worse after moving and that they are considering ending the relationship because of their move. 

Why people moved was a major factor in their post-move happiness.

Thirty-four percent of Americans said they moved out of financial desperation, while 26% moved to escape an undesirable situation. A change of scenery, however, doesn't indicate future happiness. About 20% said they were embarrassed about where they ended up.

In contrast, 21% moved to experience a change, 18% moved so they could have a better quality of life, and 17% relocated to live closer to friends and family.

If money were no object, Americans would most likely move to Nashville, followed by Denver, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Los Angeles. 

Nashville has been on the rise for years and is now one of the fastest-growing cities in America. 

“Nashville offers a rare combination of culture, economic opportunity, and quality of life that makes it an exceptional place to buy a home,” real estate agent Erin Krueger said. “With no state income tax, an affordable cost of living compared to other major cities, and an unbeatable community vibe, Nashville continues to attract people who are looking for a lifestyle upgrade.”

With so many people wanting to move to Nashville, a significant number are actually packing up and doing it. Yet rapid growth has brought its challenges, including rising home prices and traffic congestion as consequences of Nashville’s popularity.

On the other end of the spectrum, Americans are less eager to move to the Rust Belt. Cleveland was the least popular city to move to, followed by Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Even in an era of skyrocketing home prices, these affordable cities don’t have much appeal to Americans.

When it comes to states, warm-weather destinations were the most desirable. If money were no object, most Americans would want to move to Florida, followed by Hawaii and California. 

The least desirable states to move to were North Dakota, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Iowa.

Although North Dakota was considered the least desirable place to move, it actually had the highest net migration in 2023, the last year for which full data was available. Of all the people moving in and out of the state, 62% moved in and 38% moved out.