A new survey reveals the places dominating relocation wish lists in 2026, and what is driving the exodus
Year after year, the same names rise to the top of America's most-wanted lists. New research out this week explains why, and what is keeping most would-be movers firmly in place.
Nashville, Tennessee, has retained its position as the most desirable city in the United States for the second consecutive year, as new research reveals how deeply affordability concerns are reshaping where Americans want to live, and how few of them can act on it.
A survey of 1,000 Americans commissioned by Clever Real Estate in June found that 21.4% of respondents ranked Nashville a top destination, narrowly edging Denver, Colorado, at 21%.
The results reflect a sustained preference for Sun Belt cities that combine job growth and amenity with relative affordability, a dynamic that brokers have been tracking as a core driver of record cross-metro buyer search activity throughout 2026.
Chicago ranked as the least desirable city, cited negatively by 27% of respondents, followed by New York City at 26% and Detroit at 23%.
Florida extends its lead, California's star fades
At the state level, Florida claimed its third consecutive year as the most desirable in the country, with 32% of Americans naming it a top place to live. The gap between Florida and second-ranked California widened — from one percentage point in 2025 to eight percentage points this year — as California's desirability rating fell from 33% to 24%.
California and New York are now tied as the least desirable states in the country, each cited negatively by 33% of respondents. High living costs, elevated taxes, and expensive housing were the leading complaints.
he typical monthly mortgage payment on an existing single-family home reached $2,199 in Q2 2026, up $219 from the prior quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Texas posted the highest net domestic migration of any state in 2024, absorbing 392,287 more residents than it lost, per US Census Bureau data.
Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas each ranked among the top destinations for Gen Z net migration that year, reflecting the state's pull across generations.
Most desirable cities 2026
▲ Most desirable| # | City | State | % cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | TN | 21.4% |
| 2 | Denver | CO | 21.0% |
| 3 | San Diego | CA | — |
| 4 | Charlotte | NC | — |
| 5 | Seattle | WA | — |
| 6 | Tampa | FL | — |
| 7 | Raleigh | NC | — |
| 8 | Austin | TX | — |
| 9 | Boston | MA | — |
| 10 | Orlando | FL | — |
Least desirable cities 2026
▼ Least desirable| # | City | State | % cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | IL | 27% |
| 2 | New York City | NY | 26% |
| 3 | Detroit | MI | 23% |
| 4 | Los Angeles | CA | — |
| 5 | San Francisco | CA | — |
| 6 | Birmingham | AL | — |
| 7 | Baltimore | MD | — |
| 8 | Atlanta | GA | — |
| 9 | Washington, DC | DC | — |
| 10 | Tampa | FL | — |
Source: Clever Real Estate Where People Want to Live Survey, June 2026 (n=1,000 Americans). % cited reflects share naming city as a top-five destination or least desirable. Data not published for all ranked positions.
Affordability defines who moves — and who can't
The appetite for relocation is real but largely unfulfilled. While 59% of Americans say they could be convinced to move to a different state, 90% acknowledge something is stopping them, and for 54%, that barrier is financial.
They say they simply cannot afford to relocate to a more desirable market. That figure rises to 62% among Gen Z respondents, a cohort that brokers and originators have been watching closely as a future driver of purchase demand.
Safety and cost of living now lead as the defining criteria for desirability, cited by 67% and 65% of respondents respectively.
Good weather, once the top factor, dropped 10 percentage points from 2025 to reach 57%.
For brokers, the gap between intent and action in the relocation data represents latent demand. Buyers who cannot yet afford to move are prospective clients once conditions shift.
Housing affordability has also been climbing steadily since mid-2025, with real house prices falling 7.2% between April 2025 and April 2026, per First American.
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