IL city has one of the highest numbers of move-outs. Where are people going?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- PODS finds Chicago ranked 7th nationally for net long‑distance move-outs.
- Rising home prices and housing wages push residents toward cheaper metros.
- Top destinations include Southeastern coastal metros and Sun Belt cities.
Chicago has one of the greatest number of move-outs among U.S. regions, according to a report from moving company PODS.
The PODS analysis, published in May 2025, found Chicago has the seventh-greatest number of move-outs, with more reported than in Santa Barbara, Boston or Seattle. The report was based on PODS’ net long-distance moving numbers from January 2024 to March 2025.
Los Angeles landed in the No. 1 spot for move-outs, with Northern California, South Florida, Long Island, N.Y., San Diego and Central Jersey rounding out the top six areas.
High costs of living have contributed to people moving from expensive metropolitan areas. In Chicago, median home sale prices have increased by 8.6% in the last year, according to real estate company Redfin.
The cost of rent is unaffordable for many Chicago area residents, as well. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports Chicagoland’s Kendall County and the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area are the two most expensive metros in the state, with “housing wages” of $36.27 and $33.87, respectively.
A “housing wage” refers to the minimum wage a person working full-time would need to earn to be able to afford a two-bedroom rental home. Illinois’ statewide housing wage is $29.81, more affordable than Chicagoland’s, but still far exceeding the state’s minimum wage of $15.
“Stalwart patterns continue to show an exodus from once-popular hive-like megacities — where skyrocketing costs of living and population densities are the norm — in favor of smaller, more breathable cities and towns with lower costs of living, easier access to the outdoors, and vibrant, self-contained cultural scenes,” PODS analysis read.
While Chicago ranked high in PODS’ report on move-outs, the city only lost 1% of its net population from 2020 to 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Some nearby suburbs gained population, with Naperville up 2.4% and Aurora gaining a slight 0.1%.
The News-Democrat has contacted Chicago city officials for comment about the PODS analysis.
Where are residents moving to?
Metro areas in North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina and Texas performed well in PODS’ report for the cities with the greatest number of move-ins. The list reflects move-ins from anywhere, not just those leaving Chicago.
Here’s how the top 10 metro areas for move-ins stacked up, according to PODS:
1. Myrtle Beach, S.C./Wilmington, N.C.
2. Ocala, Fla.
3. Raleigh, N.C.
4. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.
5. Dallas-Fort Worth
6. Charlotte, N.C.
7. Boise, Idaho
8. Knoxville, Tenn.
9. Nashville, Tenn.
10. Jacksonville, Fla.
Although no Illinois cities made the top 10 list for cities with the greatest number of move-ins, 15 Illinois counties gained residents from 2020 to 2024, according to Census Bureau data.
Counties to gain the greatest percentage of population over the four-year period included Kendall County, despite its relatively high cost of living, Champaign County, Grundy County, McHenry County and Will County.
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