The States Americans Are Choosing to Leave and The Places They’re Moving to Instead

Virginia, known as the Old Dominion, holds its ground in the realm of outbound moves, ranking midway on the list. Nearly 38% of those departing Virginia are drawn by job opportunities, while 27% are motivated to draw closer to their loved ones. One notable challenge in Virginia is the cost of housing, with a median home value of $348,835, as reported by Zillow. Interestingly, from 1991 to 2012, Virginia saw more households moving in than leaving.

However, this trend took a turn in 2013 when a budget deadlock in Congress led to sequestration programs, resulting in automatic cuts to domestic and defense spending. Many Virginians, whose livelihoods depended on federal funding, sought new opportunities elsewhere. Over the next five years, this pattern persisted, with Virginia witnessing an annual loss of approximately 5,600 families.