Moving Industry by the numbers

Whether you’re moving to a new house, relocating to a different city or downsizing after the kids go to college, the moving industry is as active as it has ever been. In fact, the total economic impact of the moving industry in 2016 was $85.7 billion.

Interstate vs. Local Moves

1. 2017 Interstate moves: 65.48%
2. 2017 Local moves: 34.52%

In 2017, there was a 5% increase in long distance moves, compared to the year of 2016.

Months During the year people move the most

1. January –  5.58%
2. February – 5.42%
3. March – 6.83%
4. April – 7.18%
5. May – 9.85%
6. June – 13.12%
7. July – 12.22%
8. August – 11.23%
9. September – 8.58%
10. October – 8.39%
11. November – 7.87%
12. December – 3.73%

Not surprisingly, more than 60% of all moves happened during the spring, summer and until mid-fall. June happens to be the busiest month for moving, whereas December, January and February are slow. Depending on where you are located, winter may not impact the moving trend.

Days during the week when people moved the most

• Monday – 17.50%
• Tuesday – 11.14%
• Wednesday – 14.20%
• Thursday – 13.05%
• Friday – 19.74
• Saturday – 17.91%
• Sunday – 6.45%

It still appears that the weekend is always the prefered period during the week for moving. That is why we shouldn’t be surprised that most of the moves have started on Friday. This day accounted for almost 20% of the moves in 2017.

Move Sizes by number of bedrooms

1. 1-Bedroom – 26.64%
2. 2-Bedroom – 22.51%
3. Partial move – 17.75%
4. 3-Bedroom – 15.89%
5. 4+ Bedroom – 9.15%
6. Studio – 8.05%

Most moves tend to be small moves. This may be due to a larger population falling within this category. Which also means this population set will be more inclined to utilize on demand services like Uber, Phlatbed, or the gig economy in general. They tend to be minimalist, agile, tech savvy, and mobile. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Americans choose to move less of their furniture, because with brands like IKEA becoming more and more popular, it is not profitable to ship all of your furniture any more. You get the stuff you need and get it where you need it.

Average Price Per Route

Average price for a move with the longest route – from Florida to California is $4047.Based on the reviews we have received over the year, a move from New York to Florida and vice versa will be around $3500. It seems that the length of the route is a less determining factor as we see a higher average price for a shorter route – New Jersey to Florida – $3618. Same trend applies for the shortest route as well. The economic environment of the region can be a greater factor in pricing.

The On demand model however gives some price elasticity to the above. An On Demand Moving app for example may let you name your price or utilize on-demand drivers for your delivery. Companies like Dolly, Lugg, and Phlatbed (or even Uber) may enable the minimalist demographic with little furniture bypass the larger longer haul type moves above.

Surprisingly, more people utilize the do-it-yourself method than employ professional movers. [Source: AMA]

• by professional movers: 650,000
• by a consumer with a rented truck: 1 million
• by consumer unassisted: 1.35 million

Who uses moving companies? [Source: AMA]

• Individuals: 44%
• Corporate: 38%
• Military: 16%
• Other federal government: 2%

The items most commonly being moved are: [Source: AMA]

• Household goods: 73%
• Computers, copiers and other electronic office equipment: 20%
• Exhibits and trade shows: 6%
• Office and institutional: 1% (mostly local moves)

The average mover is part of a couple between the ages of 18 to 34 with one or two kids. As people get older, their tendency to move decreases significantly.

Around half of all moves take place in the summer, between the beginning of May and Labor Day. [Source: Money.USNews]

The average cost of an interstate move is $4,300, while the average cost of an in-state move is $2,300. [Source: MyMovingReviews.com]

The average annual percent of Americans who move is 11.2%. [Source: AMA]

The actual number of Americans who move annually is around 35.1 million. [Source: AMA]

• That’s 15.3 million households at 2.3 persons per household.
• 9.3% of Americans made a move within the same state. [Source: AMA]
• 1.5% of Americans moved to a different state. [Source: AMA]
• 0.4% of Americans moved from the U.S. to another country. [Source: AMA]
• Of the Americans who moved (35.1 million): [Source: AMA]
• 7% moved within the same state
• 4% moved to a different state
• 36% moved from the U.S. to another country

Reason for moving

(U.S. Census questionnaire for 2015-16): [Source: AMA]

• Wanted new or better home/apartment — 17.4%
• To establish own household — 12.2%
• New job or transfer — 10.8%
• Other family reason — 10.5%
• Wanted cheaper housing — 8.2%
• Other housing reason — 6.7%
• To be closer to work/easier commute — 6%
• Wanted to own their own home, not rent — 5.9%
• Change in marital status — 4.8%
• Other reasons — 4.4%
• To attend or leave college — 3.2%
• Wanted better neighborhood/less crime — 3.1%
• Health reasons — 1.8%
• To look for work or lost job — 1.5%
• Other job-related reasons — 1.2%
• Foreclosure/eviction — 0.9%
• Change of climate — 0.8%
• Retired — 0.7%
• Natural disaster — 0.1%

Moving and Millennials:

1. Older (age 25 to 35) Millennials are moving less than previous generations. Only 20% of Millennials reported having moved in the last year. Compare that to the silent generation in 1963 at 26% and Generation X in 2000 at 26%.

2. Only 42% of Millennials (aged 25 to 35) were married and living with their spouse in 2016. By comparison, 82% of Silent Generationers of the same age were married and living with their spouse in 1963. [Source: Pew Research Center]
3. In 1981, 56% of Baby Boomer 25 to 35 year-olds lived in homes they owned themselves, but only 37% of Millennials own homes. [Source: Pew Research Center]
4. In 2016, 56% of Millennials aged 25 to 35 were childless.

5. If they’re not tied down by spouses, houses, and children, why are Millennials staying put? Less labor market opportunities and less motivation to move into a home that they will own could both play a factor in their decisions.

On Demand Moving and Delivery