What the latest census tells us about mobility patterns

The regular U.S. Census process determines the breakdown of congressional seats by state, but it also gives us a glimpse into where and why people decide to move.

So what did we learn in the most recent census? For one, the country’s “population grew at the second slowest rate since the government started counting in 1790,” in large part because immigration into the U.S. has slowed down in recent years. That trend could begin to reverse under the Biden administration, but it’s too early to get a sense of those numbers.

Second, the pattern of people moving to the South and West — and away from the Northeast and Midwest — continued. States like Texas, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina were some of the big winners when it came to population growth, while states such as New York, Illinois and Ohio were more stagnant in comparison.

Going a step further, data from the U.S. Postal Service shows us that amid COVID-19, U.S. suburban areas gained in population while urban centers lost people. But to call it a full “urban exodus” would be unfair — in the country’s 50 largest cities, 84% of the moves were to somewhere within the larger metro area, like a first- or second-ring suburb. This was an existing trend that simply accelerated during the pandemic.

For mobility leaders, nothing in these numbers should be too surprising, but they can still inform future decisions. Places like New York City and Chicago aren’t going away as important business hubs, though companies undoubtedly have their eyes on emerging markets in the South and West. And for employees who may now be able to take advantage of more flexible working arrangements, locations outside of urban centers are looking increasingly appealing. If someone doesn’t need to come into the office often (or at all), why not consider a move to somewhere more affordable and less crowded? If your team doesn’t have a plan in place for “de-location,” now would be a good time to strategize.