In 2025, more Americans are moving to smaller, more affordable places—and Conway, South Carolina, is the top pick.
According to the latest report by relocation company MoveBuddha, Conway saw four times more people wanting to move in than move out during the first half of 2025. The report is based on over 55,000 searches for moving plans. Conway has around 28,000 residents and offers a peaceful lifestyle with open spaces, lower housing costs, and less traffic compared to big cities.
South Carolina is currently the most popular state to move to, with over 22% of total searches for new homes focused there. Other Southern states like North Carolina and Tennessee are also seeing more people interested in moving in.
Experts say people are now looking at lesser-known towns instead of big, expensive cities. These smaller places are becoming popular because of lower costs and better living conditions.
Meanwhile, states like California, New York, and New Jersey are seeing more people planning to leave. High living costs and crowded cities are pushing people out. Cities like West Des Moines (Iowa), El Cajon, and Palmdale (California) are among the top places people are leaving.
In short, Americans are choosing small towns with big benefits—affordability, space, and a better quality of life.
#MovingTrends2025 #ConwaySC #AffordableLiving #SouthernLiving #RelocationTrends #MoveToSouthCarolina #LifeInTheSouth #BetterWorkLifeBalance #SmallTownLiving #EscapeTheCity