Home movers in the North of England tend to stay close to their current communities, unlike those in the East and South who often relocate further, research by reallymoving has found.
Research revealed that that movers in the North East and North West of England moved a median distance of eight miles, with more than 40% of these moves being within a five-mile radius.
In the Midlands, the typical relocation distance was also around 10 miles.
In contrast, movers in the East of England traveled a median of 17 miles, more than twice the distance moved in the north, with 31% moving over 50 miles.
The South East and South West also saw larger relocation distances, with medians of 14 and 15 miles.
Across the UK, the median distance moved was 11 miles, with 36% moving within five miles.
However, nearly one in five (19%) moved 100 miles or more.
The South West had the highest percentage of moves over 100 miles, attributed to its sparse population.
Research also found that London moves were mostly small, with only 21.5% involving relocations from properties with three or more bedrooms.
This is linked to high costs, like Stamp Duty, which will soon increase further due to changes in thresholds.
Rob Houghton, co-founder and CEO of reallymoving, said: “It’s clear that financial constraints and the pull of existing support networks play a major role in shaping how far people move home.
“While many of us dream of pastures new, in reality most people stay close to their existing community, anchored by jobs, schools, friends and family networks.
“Local ties appear to be stronger in the North, and with house prices also more affordable, movers are more likely to find a new home that suits them in their local area.”
Houghton added: “For those located in more expensive regions of the country, such as the South and East, higher house prices and greater competition for homes are forcing people to move further afield to find the right home at the right price.”
