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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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A forecast showing the U.S. cities where Americans are most likely to move in 2026 indicates a new list of up-and-coming destinations.
Why It Matters
Shifts in where people are moving carry significant implications for local economies, urban planning, housing markets and the political landscape in destinations experiencing surging demand.
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What To Know
A new analysis of moving trends suggests American relocation patterns in 2026 will diverge sharply from both the pandemic-era boom in small towns and the long-standing appeal of coastal metros.
Instead, midsize university towns—particularly in the South and Southwest—are forecast to attract the most new residents.
In its 2026 Moving Forecast, the relocation planner and research company moveBuddha, together with corroborating industry reports, provides a data-driven view of where Americans are most likely to call home next year.
For 2026, Knoxville, Tennessee, leads the nation in projected in-migration, with an estimated 1.61 newcomers arriving for each resident who leaves, which is a higher in-to-out ratio than any other U.S. city analyzed.
The forecast, derived from moveBuddha's Moving Cost Calculator data collected from 2019 through October 2025, rounds out the top five with Tulsa, Oklahoma (1.57); Vancouver, Washington (1.57); Savannah, Georgia (1.41); and Tucson, Arizona (1.37).
These cities combine job prospects, educational anchors and affordable living, all without the congestion found in major metros, according to the forecast.
The other cities in the top 10 are Tempe, Arizona; Frisco, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Saint Paul, Minnesota; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Out of the top 25 predicted destinations, 11 feature major universities, and 20 are classified as midsize cities or large suburbs, reflecting a broad shift toward locations with stable job markets and vibrant cultural amenities.
Almost half of the top 25 are located in the South or Southwest.
The analysis also highlights "comeback cities," including Saint Paul, Minnesota, which has seen a 122 percent increase in inbound interest over five years—the highest among large U.S. metros.
Others with substantial rebounds include Milwaukee, Wisconsin (+48 percent); Chicago, Illinois (+42 percent); Cleveland, Ohio (+36 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (+33 percent).
Chicago, in particular, stands out among major hubs for reversing sustained out-migration trends.
The regions with the strongest predicted inbound-to-outbound move ratios in 2026 are the South (1.03) and Southwest (1.05), while areas such as New England (0.86) and the Midwest (0.96) are expected to see net outflows.
The data also indicates that former "hot" markets such as Austin, Texas, are cooling. Austin is forecast to have 0.95 in-moves for every person leaving, reflecting a 40 percent drop in move interest since 2019.
What People Are Saying
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, who has acknowledged the challenges of an increased population, said in a recent statement: "It is no secret that more people are moving here, the number of visitors here is skyrocketing, and our infrastructure is being pushed to its limits.
"With so much uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we take action to generate more local dollars for local projects."
What Happens Next
If these forecasts hold, cities such as Knoxville, Tulsa, Savannah and Frisco may need to address challenges associated with rapid growth, including increased demand for affordable housing, transportation infrastructure and city services.
Policymakers in these areas may also need to plan for the effects on local schools, labor markets and environmental resources.
University towns, in particular, could face pressure to balance their traditional character with new development.
Conversely, cities predicted to lose residents or see reduced interest, such as Austin and Phoenix, may need to reconsider their economic and housing policies to address the factors driving out-migration.
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