According to estimates from the Current Population Survey, 17.1 percent of the 208,069,000 persons 1 year old and over living in the United States in March 1976 were living at a different address 1 year earlier, in March 1975. This 17.1 percent represents 35,645,000 persons. An additional 1, 148,000 persons moved to the United States during the 12 months prior to the survey.

Inclusion of the movers from abroad gives the United States a 1-year residential mobility rate of 17.7 percent for the 1975-76 period. Whether movers from abroad are included or excluded, the rate of residential mobility in the United States is high by international standards.1 It is not increasing, however. There is evidence that the 1-year rate of residential mobility has been gradually declining in the United States.

Data on residential mobility over a 1-year period were first collected in 1948 and on an annual basis until 1971.2 During this period the data showed few statistically significant year-to-year changes in the rate of moving. Combining the residential mobility data for several years increases the sample size sufficiently to produce statistically significant declines. For instance the average annual rate of residential mobility for the 4 years from 1968 to 1971 was less than the average annual rate of moving for the 4 years from 1958-61. The average annual rate of moving in 1958-61 was 20.1 percent, compared with 19.1 percent in 1968-71. The rate declined to 17.7 percent for the 12 months between March 1975 and March 1976. These rates include movers from abroad.

__________

1 Larry H. Long and Celia G. Boertlein, "The Geographical Mobility of Americans: An International Comparison," Current Population Reports: Special Studies, Series P-23, No. 64. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Governrrent Printing Office, 1976.
2 U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 235, "Mobility of the Population of the United States: March 1970 to March 1971." Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972.

Geographical Mobility: March 1975 to March 1977 - Appendix [1.0 MB]

Tables

Table 1. Detailed Mobility, by Sex, Race, and Spanish Origin. [<1.0 MB]

Table 2. General Mobility, by Race, Region, and Type of Residence. Table 3. Mobility and Region of Residence at Both Dates, by Race. [<1.0 MB]

Table 4. Detailed Mobility, by Age and Sex. [<1.0 MB]

Table 5. General Mobility, by Sex and Single Years of Age. [<1.0 MB]

Table 6. General Mobility, by Region and Age. [<1.0 MB]

Table 7. Region of Residence at Both Dates, by Age and Race. [<1.0 MB]

Table 8. Metropolitan Mobility, by Race and Region. [<1.0 MB]

Table 9. Metropolitan Mobility, by Age, Sex, and Relationship to Head of Household. [<1.0 MB]

Table 10. Central City Mobility, by Age, Sex, and Relationship to Head of Household. [<1.0 MB]

Table 11. Metropolitan Mobility for Families, by Sex of Family Head and Age. Table 12. Central City Mobility for Families, by Sex of Family Head and Age. Table 13. General Mobility for Families, by Sex of Family Head and Age. [<1.0 MB]

Table 14. Metropolitan Mobility for Family Heads, by Age of Head, Ages of Own Children Under 18, and Number of Own Children Under 18. [<1.0 MB]

Table 15. Central City Mobility for Family Heads, by Age of Head, Ages of Own Children Under 18, and Number of Own Children Under 18. [<1.0 MB]

Table 16. Metropolitan Mobility for Heads of Husband-Wife Families, by Age of Head, Family Income, and Number of Own Children. [<1.0 MB]

Table 17. Metropolitan Mobility for Heads of Husband-Wife Families, by Age of Head, Family Income, and Number of Own Children. [<1.0 MB]

Table 18. General Mobility for Heads of Husband-Wife Families, by Age of Head, Family Income, and Number of Own Children. [<1.0 MB]

Table 19. Metropolitan Mobility, by Age, Sex, and Years of School Completed. [<1.0 MB]

Table 20. Central City Mobility, by Age, Sex, and Years of School Completed. [<1.0 MB]

Table 21. General Mobility, by Age, Sex, and Years of School Completed. [<1.0 MB]

Table 22. Metropolitan Mobility, by Race, Spanish Origin, and Years of School Completed Central City Mobility, by Race, Spanish Origin, and Years of School Completed. [<1.0 MB]

Table 24. General Mobility, by Age, Sex, Marital Status, and Employment Status. [<1.0 MB]

Table 25. Metropolitan Mobility, by Age, Sex, Marital Status, Employment Status, and Major Occupation Group. [1.3 MB]

Table 26. Metropolitan Mobility, by Sex, Race, Spanish Origin, Employment Status, and Major Occupation Group. [<1.0 MB]

Table 27. Metropolitan Mobility, by Sex, Race, Spanish Origin, Employment Status, and Major Occupation Group. [<1.0 MB]

Table 28. Central City Mobility, by Sex, Race, Spanish Origin, Employment Status, and Major Occupation Group. [<1.0 MB]

Table 29. Meetropolitan Mobility for Males, by Age, Marital Status, and Income. [<1.0 MB]

Table 30. Central City Mobility for Males, by Age, Marital Status, and Income. [<1.0 MB]

Table 31. Metropolitan Mobility for Families Heads, by Race, Age, Sex, and Receipt of Public Assistance. [<1.0 MB]

Table 32. Detailed Mobility for Family Heads, by Sex, Race, Region, and Receipt of Public Assistance. [<1.0 MB]

Table 33. Metropolitan Mobility, by Age, Race, Family Status, Region, and Proverty Status. [2.2 MB]

Table 34. Nonmovers and Movers to SMSA'S, by Size of SMSA and Selected Characteristics. [<1.0 MB]

Table 35. Movers From SMSA'S, by Size of SMSA and Selected Characteristics. [<1.0 MB]

Table 36. Detailed Mobility, Inmigrants, and Outmigrants, by Region and Race. [<1.0 MB]

Table 37. Movers Within and Between States, and Inmigrants and Outmigrants for Each Region, by Selected Characteristics. [<1.0 MB]

Table 38. Interregional Migrants, by Selected Characteristics. [<1.0 MB]

Table 39. Mobility for Interregional Migrants, by Race. General Mobility, by Race and Metropolitan Mobility. [<1.0 MB]

Others in Series

Publication

Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces

October 1976

This report presents results of a study of the material history of men and women that was conducted in June 1975 by the Bureau of the Census.

Publication

Daytime Care of Children: October 1974 and February 1975

October 1976

Data on the arrangements made for the daytime care of children 3 to 13 years old for women in and out of the labor force for both full- and part-time workers.

Publication

Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March 1976

January 1977

Detailed tabulations provide statistics on the marital status and living arrangements of the United States population using data from the 1976 CPS.

View All

Related Information

Migration/Geographic Mobility Publications

Current Population Survey Publications

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