While inbound migration to Florida has plunged of late, they’re still rushing to the River City.
Jacksonville remains one of only two Florida metros to make the top 20 in a new ranking of relocation hotspots, according to the PODS Moving Trends Report.
The town notched No. 10 spot on the list, joining Ocala at No. 2 as the only Sunshine State entries on the list.
“For the past two years, we’ve watched Florida fall out of favor for moves,” the report stated. “Once the golden child of net migration, the Sunshine State seems to have lost its appeal. In 2024, Florida saw about half of the net migration numbers from the previous year.”
But with its relatively affordable housing market, miles of coastline, and expanding job opportunities, Jacksonville has maintained strong appeal to movers — especially those looking to escape the high costs and density of other urban hubs.
The 2025 list draws from PODS’ proprietary data collected from long-distance moves between January 2024 and March 2025. Jacksonville held steady in the top 10, maintaining its position from 2024 as other Florida cities — such as Orlando and Fort Myers — slipped off the list entirely.
The Bold City’s somewhat unexpected resilience, observers believe, stems from a variety of factors.
The city offers a mix of suburban space and urban amenities, and its location provides easy access to both Georgia and the rest of Florida.
The region’s relatively lower risk of extreme weather events compared to southern parts of the state may also play a role in its continued popularity.
Nationally, the Southeast continued to dominate the report’s rankings. Cities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee made up nearly half of the top 20. Myrtle Beach, SC/Wilmington, NC claimed the top spot for the third consecutive year.
In 2025, the largest outflows of residents are coming from high-cost coastal metros, with Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami leading the list of top move-out areas for the second consecutive year.
These regions are seeing sustained exits due to soaring housing costs, population density, and climate concerns.
Long Island, serving parts of New York City, and San Diego also rank high among cities people are leaving, reinforcing a broader shift away from expensive urban centers toward more affordable, mid-sized cities across the Southeast, Midwest, and Mountain West.
