The 15 US Cities Folks Are Transferring To In The Pandemic

Sunny Florida was a big hit. ️

There’s a reason it looked like everyone was leaving New York City, LA, and San Francisco in 2020 – it was them.

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These three cities, which have long been drawing people despite notoriously high rents and small living spaces, had the most deserted in 2020, according to CoreLogic, a property data and analytics company.

The trend away from these major metros (and others like Washington, DC, Miami, and Seattle) reflected a significant shift in priorities. When many Americans started working from home in 2020, they were looking for more housing and fewer crowds.

It turns out that most of the people have moved (and bought houses) to these 15 US cities:

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According to the study, people took advantage of 2020’s record-low mortgage rates and bought homes in these 15 cities, many of which offered buyers more housing for less money, lower property taxes, no state income tax, and a sunny outdoor lifestyle. (Florida was the winner by far.)

1.

Riverside, California

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Riverside may not be on the ocean like LA, but with no traffic, it’s about an hour from both downtown LA and the Pacific. Not bad when you consider that the average home price in 2020 was less than half the cost of buying a home in LA ($ 436,288 and $ 989,157, respectively).

3.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Nestled between the much larger subways of Charleston, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina, is Myrtle Beach, home to Grand Strand, a 60 mile stretch of beaches. It may be a popular vacation destination, but it’s hard to deny the benefits of direct water access, famous golf courses, and homes averaging $ 280,949 in 2020.

4th

Las Vegas, Nevada

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There’s more to Vegas than just the Strip – it’s actually surrounded by natural beauty on three sides: two wildlife sanctuaries and the vast Lake Mead. In addition to having access to the great outdoors, Nevada has no state income tax and an average house price of $ 372,974 in 2020. Sure, it surpasses San Francisco’s average of 😬 1,266,711.

5.

Tampa, Florida

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Tampa has big city vibes, sunny weather, and direct access to the ocean. Homes in 2020 were perhaps around $ 100,000 more expensive than neighboring Lakeland (# 2) in 2020, but $ 348,849 isn’t bad considering it’s right on the Gulf Coast.

6th

Port St. Lucie, Florida

7th

Jacksonville, Florida

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Miami gets all the attention, but the largest city in the income tax-free state of Florida is Jacksonville. It has a spacious, suburban feel that coupled with beaches, waterways, amazing food, golf courses, and homes that sold for an average of $ 319,559, made moving to Jacksonville in 2020 a breeze for many Americans.

8th.

San Antonio, Texas

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Unlike many cities on this list, San Antonio doesn’t offer homebuyers a beach breeze, but does offer a welcome dose of culture. People come to see the Alamo or stroll the San Antonio River Walk and stay for the BBQ, Tex-Mex, and more affordable housing – averaging $ 288,887 in 2020.

10.

Dallas, Texas

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Though a big city, Dallas has retained its affordability with no state income tax and homes that sold for an average of $ 343,968 in 2020. A price that’s hard to miss considering you’re in the region’s cultural hub – with a great arts district and booming food scene.

12th

Cape Coral, Florida

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The Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan region spans the Caloosahatchee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. With almost as much water as land, this area is home to manatees, amazing kayaking trips, bird watching, and several water conservation areas. The community is perfect for those craving a watery lifestyle – and homes that averaged $ 326,674 in 2020.

13th

Phoenix, Arizona

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With year-round sun and warm temperatures, the area around Phoenix is ​​a dream for people who love nature and want to hike the same trails in January as in June. The city’s Camelback Mountain draws tourists, but locals know the city has a lot more to offer – including affordable housing (average house prices in 2020 were $ 369,519).

14th

Sarasota, Florida

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On the way from Tampa and across from St. Petersburg is the metropolitan area of ​​Sarasota, which includes the communities of North Port and Bradenton. The area’s beaches, restaurants, shopping, and warm weather make this city a breeze – as do house prices, which averaged $ 394,137 in 2020.

Have you moved to the cities since the pandemic started? Share your trip in the comments!

And for more stories about life and money, check out the rest of our personal financial contributions.

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