On Thursday, U.S. News & World Report issued its list of the top places where people are thinking about moving so far in 2025.
The study examined online searches to figure out which parts of the country people have been curious about moving to — and it turned out that a lot of focus was placed on the south and southeast.
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On a state-by-state basis, the top places for migration interest in the first quarter of 2025 were as follows:
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Delaware
- North Carolina
- Maine
- Idaho
- West Virginia
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
However, when breaking the data down by cities, Florida managed to make a much bigger splash.
According to the study, eight of the top-searched cities happened to be located in the Sunshine State. Of those, two ranked among the top: Clermont at No. 7, and The Villages rounding out at No. 10.
Researchers said that the Sun Belt and many coastal locations drove a lot of interest online, making Florida a desirable pick for many looking to move.
“Rounding out states with Southern appeal, Clermont and The Villages in Florida are popular retirement spots. Located west of Orlando, Clermont has lakes and hills, and it offers easy access to many amenities and activities without the drawbacks of living in a large metro area. A census-designated area, The Villages is a retirement community in Central Florida that offers a lifestyle suited for residents age 55 and older.”
U.S. News & World Report, "Where is Everyone Moving? Unpacking the Top Migration Trends of 2025 So Far"
Over the past few years, millions of people have moved to Florida, many from places like New York, Georgia and California.
But while this population boost has been great for industry in the state, it’s also come with an unintended consequence of driving up the cost of living for many existing residents.
The population isn’t set to decrease anytime soon, either, though experts predict that the rate of people moving into Florida will slow down over the next few years.
Regardless, the full ranking of top-searched cities is as follows:
| Rank | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluffton | SC |
| 2 | Portland | ME |
| 3 | Myrtle Beach | SC |
| 4 | Lansing | MI |
| 5 | Meridian | ID |
| 6 | Huntsville | AL |
| 7 | Clermont | FL |
| 8 | Greenville | SC |
| 9 | Winston-Salem | NC |
| 10 | The Villages | FL |
| 11 | Knoxville | TN |
| 12 | Ocala | FL |
| 13 | Summerville | SC |
| 14 | Fort Collins | CO |
| 15 | Raleigh | NC |
| 16 | Georgetown | TX |
| 17 | Cary | NC |
| 18 | Amarillo | TX |
| 19 | Franklin | TN |
| 20 | Chattanooga | TN |
| 21 | Williamsburg | VA |
| 22 | Savannah | GA |
| 23 | St. Augustine | FL |
| 24 | Lewisville | TX |
| 25 | Charleston | SC |
| 26 | Palm Coast | FL |
| 27 | Bellevue | WA |
| 28 | Kissimmee | FL |
| 29 | Prescott | AZ |
| 30 | Kent | WA |
| 31 | Naperville | IL |
| 32 | Edmond | OK |
| 33 | Green Bay | WI |
| 34 | Fayetteville | NC |
| 35 | Harrisburg | PA |
| 36 | Wilmington | NC |
| 37 | Surprise | AZ |
| 38 | Vancouver | WA |
| 39 | Eugene | OR |
| 40 | Punta Gorda | FL |
| 41 | Saint Paul | MN |
| 42 | Hillsboro | OR |
| 43 | Minneapolis | MN |
| 44 | Frisco | TX |
| 45 | Henderson | NV |
| 46 | Springfield | MO |
| 47 | Orlando | FL |
| 48 | Columbia | SC |
| 49 | Wilmington | DE |
| 50 | Ann Arbor | MI |