Americans Are On the Move—and These 10 Metros Are Seeing the Most Departures

In some parts of the country, residents are staying put—in others, they’re packing up and moving on.

Realtor.com® economists recently analyzed the 50 largest metros and their turnover rates from September 2024 to August 2025 to pinpoint the top 10 places where the most people are selling their homes.

"Markets with higher turnover tend to function more fluidly than markets with lower turnover, with a healthier balance of active buyers and sellers," says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

"The markets with the highest turnover are typically more affordable and supported by robust for-sale inventory, particularly from new construction."

The 10 metros with the highest turnover

Four of the top 10 metros where the most people are selling their homes are in Texas.

"Metros like San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin have seen significant building activity over the past five years, which has helped temper home price growth and expand options for buyers, ultimately encouraging more frequent home sales," says Jones.

Kansas City, MO

Median list price: $380,000

Turnover rate: 45 sales per 1,000 housing units

Kansas City was thrust into the spotlight when Travis Kelce proposed to Taylor Swift there this summer. But it's been ready for its close-up for quite some time, due to its low cost of living and affordability.

"Affordable home prices in Kansas City contribute to relatively high housing turnover," says Jones. "Kansas City has also seen strong demand that has supported that elevated turnover."

Many homeowners also saw 2025 as the perfect moment to sell and take advantage of their built-up equity, while the harsh Missouri winters motivated others to relocate.

"This year I've had the most clients that I help on the sell side actually moving out of town," says Majid Ghavami, a ReeceNichols real estate agent in the Kansas City area.

"A lot of it has been retirees moving to warmer climates. Maybe it's those baby boomers hitting that age where they’re retiring, and so they're just relocating to different parts of the country to spend their retirement years."

San Antonio, TX

Median list price: $329,000

Turnover rate: 45 sales per 1,000 housing units

Job relocations motivate many to buy and sell in the San Antonio area, according to Daniel Cabrera, owner and founder of Sell My House Fast SA TX.

"Corporate hiring and military rotations provide constant job openings," he says, adding that "equity unlocking" is also a big move motivator.

"People in San Antonio are monetizing appreciation and resetting life logistics, not panic selling," he explains. "They are selling to repay debts, relocate for their relatives, and escape the commute for more space."

Higher demand also leads to greater sales.

"San Antonio is a city where sellers are riding the wave of demand," says Sain Rhodes, the real estate expert for Clever Offers. "Last quarter, I personally relocated clients from high-tax states like California to San Antonio. Sellers are taking advantage of this window of opportunity and not waiting around."

Indianapolis, IN

Median list price: $320,000

Turnover rate: 45 sales per 1,000 housing units

"The higher turnover rate here largely comes down to three things: affordability compared to other metros, strong in-migration, and homeowners cashing out after significant equity growth from the past few years," says Jonathan Kile, real estate investor of Loyal Home Buyers in Indianapolis.

"We are definitely seeing more sellers come to the market, especially those facing relocation for work, financial pressure from rising living costs, or simply downsizing after their equity peak."

Real estate agent Fred Loguidice, of Indianapolis, says he believes the high turnover in Indianapolis is primarily a sign of a robust, high-volume investor market.

"Indianapolis, like many Midwestern metros, has been a major target for national investors seeking yield," he explains. "These investors buy, renovate quickly, and sell to realize a profit."

Las Vegas, NV

Median list price: $471,975

Turnover rate: 43 sales per 1,000 housing units

Real estate agent Robert Little, of Re/Max Advantage in Henderson, NV, says that many Nevada retirees are selling so they can transition into assisted-living communities, move closer to family, or relocate to places with cooler summer climates. He also says that real estate investors who purchased real estate at discounted prices in prior years are now taking profits and shifting their money into different opportunities.

"We are also seeing people downsize as they become empty nesters or want to go from a two-story to a one-story," he says.

Dallas, TX

Median list price: $425,000

Turnover rate: 42 sales per 1,000 housing units

"In Dallas-Fort Worth, we’re seeing a healthy increase in homeowners putting their properties on the market, which reflects strong buyer interest and vibrant market activity," says Harrison Polsky, director of luxury sales at Douglas Elliman in Dallas. "Many people are taking advantage of rising home values to move into larger homes, upgrade to newer properties, or relocate closer to family or work."

Nashville, TN

Median list price: $536,739

Turnover rate: 42 sales per 1,000 housing units

Nashville's rapid population growth over the past few years, driven by tech companies and tourism, has led to a rising cost of living. That, combined with the acceleration in housing prices, has prompted some homeowners to cash out and move somewhere cheaper.

Jake Kennedy, an affiliate broker at Compass in Nashville, notes that other sellers are motivated by the need to upsize or downsize. He says the market over the past few years left many homeowners feeling stuck, and the recent rate decrease spurred them to make a move.

Liz Gatlin, a Nashville real estate broker and architect with Southern Athena, tells Realtor.com she's also noticed people moving when there’s a major life shift, such as having a baby or going through a divorce.

Austin, TX

Median list price: $489,859

Turnover rate: 42 sales per 1,000 housing units

"During the [COVID-19] pandemic, Austin experienced rapid price appreciation, and many buyers moved here quickly and for many reasons," says Austin real estate broker Noá Levy, of The Boutique Real Estate powered by eXp Realty. "In the last couple of years, political reasons, cost of living, desire to return to their previous areas, and even job relocation have been a factor in deciding to move away from Austin and Texas in general."

Levy says if homeowners bought before the pandemic, they still have big equity.

"So people feel maybe now that interest rates came down a little bit, it may be the moment to take advantage of gains from the appreciation we saw from 2020 to 2022," he explains.

Charlotte, NC-SC

Median list price: $438,348

Turnover rate: 42 sales per 1,000 housing units

Charlotte real estate agent Kate Terrigno, of Corcoran Horizon Realty, says many area sellers are relocating for work, downsizing, or simply trying to reduce the overall rising cost of living.

"In the Charlotte market, we have been seeing more and more people putting their homes on the market this year as a direct reflection of how quickly the city’s been changing and growing," says Terrigno.

"For many longtime residents, the cost-of-living catch-up is finally hitting home, and what was once a relatively affordable city is no longer a bargain the way it once was. A portion of residents are deciding the trade-offs no longer feel worthwhile—and in a strong market that still supports buyer demand, it’s the ideal time to sell."

Houston, TX

Median list price: $358,000

Turnover rate: 40 sales per 1,000 housing units

"Rising interest rates, job changes, and remote-work flexibility have made homeowners more mobile," says Ahmed Harhara, founder of HoustonHomeTools.com.

"A lot of people bought homes during competitive market conditions, and now that lifestyles or budgets have changed, they’re adjusting by relocating sooner than planned. Turnover doesn’t necessarily reflect dissatisfaction; it reflects how dynamic the market has become."

Heather Shepherd, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman, says she keeps hearing the following reasons come up when people are selling: rising homeowners insurance premiums and property taxes; commute fatigue; lifestyle upgrades; and new-construction pressures.

"Some older neighborhoods feel squeezed or overshadowed, and builders are starting to buy the older homes for new construction," she explains.

St. Louis, MO

Median list price: $295,900

Turnover rate: 39 sales per 1,-000 housing units

Although St. Louis is emerging as America's next tech hub, full of job opportunities, a few corporations have moved or announced plans to move their headquarters or main offices from parts of the St. Louis region in 2025, which caused some relocations.

In addition, St. Louis has experienced sustained demand in recent years, "as buyers are drawn to its affordability," says Jones. "Homeowners there are generally well-positioned to afford a move, which helps keep inventory flowing and homes selling."