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2020 may be one of the biggest migratory years in this country this century with the pandemic making it more likely folks can and will be working from home in the short and potentially long term. Without the need to suffer through unbearable commutes, workplace fatigue, and those headache-inducing fluorescent lights, many people are finding the idea of moving their home office to a different state appealing; perhaps one with better tax rates, lower cost of living, or because of lost jobs or lower incomes. Many are moving to more rural areas or smaller municipalities to avoid the congestion of major cities and the spread of COVID-19. In all likelihood, it’s a combination of many of these factors and more. In order to sort out the mystery of the move, it’s important to look not only at why some people are moving into a new state or out of their home state, but also what fuels their decision to move. Working from home doesn’t necessarily mean you can live ANYWHERE, some remote jobs require that employees live near to the home office of the company they work for since, on occasion, face-to-face meetings are sometimes necessary, and being within the area is sometimes required. Here is a selection of states we picked out (in no particular order) people are relocating to for a variety of reasons, not only due to the virus but also because of employment opportunities and quality of life.
Nevada, with one of the highest growth rates across the nation as of late, hasn’t always been this prosperous. As a matter of fact, Nevada’s unemployment rate in 2011 was abysmal at 13% during the great recession before it went down to 4.5% over the course of five years as more jobs became available when tech and other companies began moving in to take advantage of the state’s tax incentives. The recent pandemic saw the unemployment rate drop from 30.10% in April to 12% in October of this year, boosting the economy and increasing the flow of visitors and new residents from across the country, particularly (and traditionally) from California whose unemployment rates skyrocketed as well. The cost of living, high housing prices, and the availability of jobs are a big factor in people’s decision to move to Nevada from more expensive states like Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. With its low to non-existent taxes, abundant good weather, and plenty of jobs, Nevada has also historically been a draw for people coming from places like Texas, Arizona, and Washington state.
Idaho also saw a dramatic increase in population growth in light of the pandemic when more people moved into the state than out. The differential between those coming in and those going out according to Business Insider was 194%. That’s a pretty big disparity as the state’s capital, Boise, has seen its population grow from residents moving in from California, Washington, Utah, and Oregon. Again, there are myriad reasons to uproot and move somewhere else, but the overlying factors these days seem to be one of a number of things: the ability to work remotely from wherever you live, economic hardship, or fear of the coronavirus. All valid reasons to pack your bags and start fresh in a new city or town.
Colorado has consistently been somewhat of a nomadic state where residents are often temporary depending when the powder hits the slopes or the wildflowers bloom in the spring, but these days it’s likely the booming economy, not so much the pandemic that’s driving folks to make a permanent move to the Centennial State. With its average of 300 sunny days a year, the state is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast whether it’s mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding, or hiking all of the 14rs (mountains above 14,000 feet). With 41% of Coloradans having at least a bachelor’s degree, it’s the second-highest educated state behind Massachusetts and is expected to see major job growth in the next five years. As for its inhabitants, Colorado has seen a 16.9% increase in population between 2000 and 2010 according to the census results. Currently there are 5,845,530 residents in Colorado compared to 4,301,262 in 2000. The appeal of the Colorado mountains, no matter what the season, brings people from all over the country, most notably California (of course), Kansas, Illinois, New York, and Texas.
Meanwhile, the state of New Mexico has seen a deficit of new residents during the pandemic. A whopping 43% of people moved out than moved in since its start. With a population of 2.35 million residents, 43% seems like a lot to lose, yet its idyllic desert landscape and iconic saguaro cacti are the perfect backdrop for the residents who choose to remain. The emigration of New Mexico’s population is primarily to the states of Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and oddly, Oregon. A large number of those leaving New Mexico are well-educated folks making between 50-100k a year, looking to make use of their higher education in cities like Denver where there are higher-paying job opportunities that are not too far from family and friends.
North Carolina has seen a major influx of new inhabitants and has the reputation for being one of the kindest, nicest states to live in and not just because of the great weather, thriving job market, and southern hospitality. With a population of over 10.5 million people and a prosperous job market, the state is a desirable place to relocate to whether it’s for work, raising a family, or retirement. Given their reputations as cities filled with Southern charm like Charlotte and its capital, Raleigh, it’s no wonder people continue to flock to this state at an unprecedented rate. In 2000, census records reflected the state population at approximately 8 million denizens and in 2019 it had reached 10.5 million. North Carolina is one of the only states that can make the claim that only 1% of its population has moved away since the start of the pandemic, which leads me to believe it must be such a great state that no one wants to leave.
South Carolina, like its neighbor to the north, has seen enormous migration over the last five years that has only increased with the onset of COVID-19. One of the reasons people are flocking to the state is because of its use of incentives to bring in foreign and domestic investment, resulting in an increase in jobs, a lower cost of living, and affordable home prices. With its desirable weather and four distinct seasons, South Carolina is a great place to relocate, put your feet down, and settle in.
Arizona is another state that saw a significant invasion of immigrants from other states. Scottsdale in particular saw some of the biggest gains in population since the pandemic started. Perhaps it’s because of the misconception that warmer weather will prevent the virus from spreading, but the state has seen a 68% relocation rate, some in-state and some from out-of-state since April. A number of these relocations are due to economic factors like being furloughed, folks losing their business, and having to move to a smaller residence altogether. Arizona also has a steadily growing economy since the pandemic began, seeing approximately 46% of the jobs it lost at the beginning of the year returning by the fall. Another reason the population has increased is likely because Arizona is a hot spot for retirees and it is conceivable that folks living in the states to the north who normally vacation in their winter homes have made them permanent or at least long enough to wait out the pandemic in a warmer climate, assuming wrongly that COVID-19 will wane in the warm weather in the same way our flu season declines in the summer season. The Grand Canyon State also boasts a business-friendly climate where it is less expensive to operate, which would appeal to business owners who couldn’t afford to work in the pandemic-riddled and largely over-populated states and cities in other parts of the country.
With COVID-19 ravaging our country and workplaces, the option to move somewhere less expensive with more incentives has never been stronger. Working from home has made it possible for employees to move about the country, and in some cases, more of a reality than ever. The onslaught of the pandemic has opened the eyes of many company heads into realizing that the technology that exists today can spread the workforce out across vast areas by using programs like Zoom, Facetime, and other connectivity software, therefore making it easier to communicate with its employees not necessarily from the office or boardroom anymore. Wherever one chooses to go, it’s likely the trend of working outside of the cube will continue for a while and encourage a continued migration to places with a lot more to offer than just living near one’s place of work.
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