The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many Americans to relocate – whether moving from hot spots deemed unsafe, leaving a home they could no longer afford, or seeking out a larger, more comfortable space to spend the duration of quarantine. This week we surveyed our audience to learn how many Americans moved away from their permanent dwelling during this time, as well as their reasons for doing so. For those who did not move, we asked whether they would choose to relocate to a different living space and where they would go if money were not a factor. Below we also explore differences in priorities among those who did move, versus those who would move if they had the financial means.
Relocation During COVID-19
July 14, 2020
Did you relocate because of the pandemic?
7% of Americans relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Men were more likely than women to relocate due to the pandemic.
What was the most important factor in your decision to relocate?
More than half of those who moved (54%) chose to be closer to family, 11% were leaving a COVID-19 hot spot, and 10% were looking for a larger space to spend quarantine.
If moving costs were not a factor, would you relocate because of the pandemic?
If moving costs were not a factor, even more Americans (21%) would have chosen to relocate during the pandemic.
What is the most important factor to consider when thinking about relocating?
If moving costs were not a factor, 37% of Americans would move to be closer to their families. Cheaper cost of living (20%) and larger space (10%) rank second and third among the most important factors to consider when thinking about relocating.
Where would you consider relocating?
Of those who would move, 55% would head to a nearby suburb or a more rural area. 45% of Americans would relocate to another city.
If moving costs were not a factor, men would be more likely to relocate to nearby suburbs, while women would prefer to move to another city.
FAQs
How is this data collected?
‘Fluent Pulse’ reflects a daily online survey collected across Fluent’s portfolio of owned & operated websites.
Who is the audience?
Fluent attracts a massive audience across its network of owned media properties. While all segments of the US population are represented, the below are our most prevalent demographic skews:
| Demographic Attribute | Over Penetrated Among |
| Age | Median: 38
61% between the age of 18 & 44 |
| Gender | 50/50 Male/Female |
| Education | High School Degree or Some College |
| Homeownership | 61% Renters |
| Households with Children | 42% of Audience |
How many people were surveyed?
On average, 150,000 – 175,000 consumers respond daily.
Is the data weighted?
No, but representative of the overall Fluent Audience.
How do you protect consumers data privacy?
All responses related to this survey are anonymized; only survey responses will be disclosed. At no point will consumer’s personal information will ever be disclosed.
What was your methodology?
Data has been collected from U.S. adults on a daily or weekly basis, dependent upon topic, since March 10, 2020. All data is sourced from Fluent’s portfolio of owned and operated media properties. Results are specific to the Fluent audience and not reflective of the general U.S. population.
The data presented on this site does not reflect the official opinion, policy or position of Fluent, Inc. This research is only meant to inform and illustrate, as an example, the rich data assets Fluent can derive insights from to drive in-market strategies.