Study: Greenville, Spartanburg among top U.S. spots attracting more people from large cities
In the US, mid-size cities are often overlooked in favor of large metropolitan areas.
However, a recent data analysis by Mayflower indicates the tables are turning, with Americans flocking to smaller metro areas, such as Greenville and Spartanburg, due to affordability and better quality of life.
Mayflower's 2023 "Finding Home" campaign surveyed thousands of movers across the country over the last two years to understand what factors contributed to their choosing of a particular city. The study is based on household moves handled by Mayflower within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. It ranks the metropolitan statistical areas based off high inbound percentages (55% or more) of total moves in each city.
Cities in the Carolinas comprised five of the Top 10 mid-size cities with appealing lifestyle offerings.
Survey results revealed 91% of movers say cost of living is an important factor in buying a home.
Home shopping? The Greenville area's 10 most expensive homes on the market.
Here are other key takeaways from the survey:
∎ 48% of movers say proximity to arts and culture venues helped influence where they moved.
∎ 67% indicate weather as a top influence, followed by proximity to parks, green spaces and nature trails (61%).
∎ Other top reasons for moving or considering moving include family (32%), financial reasons (28%) and relocating for a new job (19%). 61% of movers saying they would relocate across states for a higher rate of pay.
∎ 37% of movers have started a side hustle due to the rising cost of living. The businesses they are pursuing include: freelancing/consulting (36%), small business (31%) or content creation (24%).
"Our customers are sharing incredible stories of the importance of living near an abundance of outdoor space, where they have access to arts and cultural venues, some nightlife and less traffic. As the benefits of living in mid-size cities become more apparent, it is expected that this trend will continue to shape the future of urban living across the country." said Eily Cummings, Mayflower’s Vice President of Corporate Communications.
High demand, high prices for homes: Here are the key Greenville real estate trends
According to inbound moves from Mayflower data, the mid-size cities at the top of the list are:
∎ Wilmington, North Carolina (81% inbound)
∎ Santa Fe, New Mexico (75% inbound)
∎ Knoxville, Tennessee (70% inbound)
∎ Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (67% inbound)
∎ Asheville, North Carolina (66% inbound)
∎ Greensboro/Winston Salem, North Carolina (65% inbound)
∎ Fayetteville, Arkansas (65% inbound)
∎ Charlotte, North Carolina (64% inbound)
∎ Indianapolis, Indiana (60% inbound)
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville, Spartanburg hot spots for people moving from big cities
