The Shrinking Move: How Remote Work and Demographic Shifts Are Changing American Relocation Patterns

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

08 Apr 2026

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The American moving industry is undergoing major changes that go beyond headlines about remote work. Corporate relocations are becoming smaller and less common, while moves driven by individual choice are rising as more people decide where to live based on personal preference rather than job location.

Scott Ferree, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at MiniMoves, has seen these changes play out across the company’s nationwide network of 145 service terminals. With 35 years of experience, MiniMoves specializes in small shipments — from a college graduate’s first apartment to a retiree’s carefully selected belongings.

“The average shipment industry-wide has declined in size by 22% since the COVID pandemic,” Ferree says. This sharp drop reflects broader shifts in how Americans approach both work and what they own.

Corporate Relocation Shrinks

Traditional corporate relocations, once characterized by senior managers moving from suburban homes, have largely faded. Ferree notes that companies have “almost completely stopped moving that senior manager with a three-bedroom home in the suburbs  because of the associated costs.” Instead, corporate relocation is now focused on new hires and mid-level managers who are often renters with fewer possessions.

Rising relocation costs are a major factor. Many companies no longer cover the expense of moving entire households. The result is a smaller customer base for the moving industry and a clear decline in average shipment size.

Rise of Consumer-Driven Moves

As corporate relocations decrease, consumer-driven moves are rising, fueled by remote work policies that offer greater location flexibility. Ferree observes that “people have more freedom to work and live where they want to live, and not where they have to work.” This new freedom, however, means individuals are paying for their own moves. “Corporations are not paying to move you down to Florida if that’s where you want to hang out,” he says. These moves are now personal decisions rather than company mandates.

Migration Patterns

MiniMoves’ data shows clear trends in interstate migration. The top three outbound states are Illinois, New Jersey, and California — places with a high cost of living. Residents are leaving these states for more affordable options. “The cost of living has just gotten to be so expensive that people are leaving those states looking for a place that’s more affordable,” Ferree says.

The main destinations are North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. North Carolina’s popularity stands out as a newer trend. “A lot of people are heading to North Carolina,” Ferree notes, highlighting its growing appeal for those seeking lower costs and a better quality of life.

The Return-to-Office Effect

Despite the rise of remote work, corporate return-to-office mandates are starting to reverse some migration patterns. Ferree reports seeing people “reluctantly leaving Florida, kicking and screaming because the boss says, I’ve got to move back to wherever.” Companies are increasingly requiring in-person collaboration, which is difficult to replicate over virtual meetings. This trend is especially strong in the tech sector, where firms are calling employees back to high-cost cities like San Francisco.

Some workers are unwilling to move back and instead are changing careers to maintain their preferred location. “There are a lot of those workers who have figured out there’s probably something else I can do for a living so I can stay where I want to stay,” Ferree says.

Two Key Demographics

Two groups are driving smaller moves and homes. The first is younger generations, who Ferree says “just don’t value stuff the way my parents did.” Many prefer to buy new, inexpensive furniture when they arrive rather than move large amounts of belongings.

The second group is older Americans. “10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 years old every day for the next 28 years,” Ferree points out. Many are downsizing from larger homes and must decide what to keep. Ferree’s own family recently faced this challenge with inherited heirlooms, as his mother-in-law had to choose which set of china to keep and which to pass on.

Implications for Real Estate Investors

For real estate investors, the shrinking size of household moves signals a shift in housing demand. Ferree believes “the days of the 4,500-square-foot home are starting to wane.” Instead, buyers are questioning whether they need so much space and are considering homes in the 1,200 to 1,500-square-foot range. This trend points to opportunities to build and sell smaller homes that better match new living patterns.

The Storage Surge

Smaller homes do not always mean fewer possessions. MiniMoves often delivers a portion of a customer’s belongings to self-storage units during the move. “It is so common for us to move somebody down into that smaller space and then make a delivery over into self-storage,” Ferree says. Many people are not ready to part with items that have sentimental value or potential future use, leading to a rise in demand for self-storage. This “partitioning of the household” reflects ongoing attachment to personal belongings even as living spaces shrink.

Technology’s Role in Moving

The moving industry is also adopting technology to serve customers better. MiniMoves uses AI-driven virtual assistants to handle inquiries at all hours, responding to a surprising number of requests late at night. “We get a significant number of inquiries at our website between 11 PM and 3 AM,” Ferree notes. The company is also launching a virtual survey system that allows customers to inventory their items via a smartphone, eliminating the need for in-person visits.

Looking Ahead

The current changes in the moving industry mirror broader shifts in American life, including the balance between remote work and corporate demands, economic pressures driving interstate migration, and a demographic shift toward smaller homes and simpler living.

For real estate professionals, these trends create opportunities in markets gaining new residents, particularly through demand for smaller homes and expanded storage options. The data also shows that while some companies are pulling workers back to the office, the desire for location flexibility remains strong and continues to shape housing choices.

Ferree emphasizes the importance of intentional downsizing: “The goal in moving, whether you’re moving from a three-bedroom house or a one-bedroom apartment, is not to throw it away once you get there, because you just paid money to do that. It’s encouraging people to really right-size before the truck shows up.”

This approach — making thoughtful decisions about what to keep and what to let go — may become the norm as Americans adjust to new patterns in work, living, and possessions. If you understand these changes, you can build, sell, and service the next generation of American households. The future of moving is smaller, more deliberate, and more closely tied to how people want to live, not just where they need to work.