Relocation Realities

Methodology: This study surveyed 3,011 U.S. adults in July 2026 to identify the cities where people who relocate are most likely to find that reality does not match their expectations. Respondents were asked to consider places that are widely perceived as appealing before a move but where the day-to-day experience differs from what newcomers anticipate, taking into account factors such as cost of living, lifestyle, job opportunities, traffic, amenities, weather, and overall quality of life. Responses were aggregated to produce national and state-level rankings of the cities most commonly associated with unmet expectations after relocating. Demographic quotas and weighting were applied where appropriate to ensure the sample was broadly representative of the U.S. adult population by age, gender, and region.