Penske Truck Rental's annual survey shows a clear generational split: younger movers chase lifestyle and identity, older ones still move for the classic reasons — and the destinations cluster hard in the Sun Belt.
The map is a Sun Belt sweep — Texas alone takes 4 of the 10 spots, led by Houston at #1.
Share of each generation that moved in the past five years — mobility falls steadily with age.
Younger movers rank a fresh start and a new job highest; for Boomers, being close to loved ones outweighs everything else.
A strong majority across every generation — the desire for a place that suits a lifestyle, not just a job.
Younger generations weight "vibrant," "active" and "diverse" highly; "quiet" is the one trait that holds steady across all ages.
Social media shapes how younger movers see a city; truck rental peaks with the middle generations.
For Gen Z, "a fresh start" (47%) edges out "a new job" — and 80% want a fun place that fits their interests. Identity is moving ahead of opportunity.
For Boomers+, being close to loved ones (40%) dwarfs a fresh start (15%) or a new job (8%) — the classic relocation driver still rules.
73% of Gen Z say social media shaped how they see a city — versus 40% of Boomers. The feed is now a relocation tool.
All 10 destinations sit in the Sun Belt — TX, GA, NC, NV, FL, AZ. Texas alone takes 4, with Houston at #1.
Population is flowing into exactly the metros Cube-Age is built around — Houston is the #1 destination in the country, and four of the top ten are Texas cities. For sellers of home, furniture, moving and outfitting goods, demand is concentrating where Cube-Age's Houston hub already sits — at the front door of the migration.
Source: "Settling In: A Consumer Moving Trends Survey," Penske Truck Rental — PN View survey fielded by Big Village among 1,009 U.S. adults 18+, March 30–April 1, 2026.