People Are Moving to (And Leaving) These Florida Cities

Florida is a mixed bag when it comes to moving trends. Some areas of the state are getting new residents, while other areas are chasing them away. But, people are moving to, and leaving, certain Florida cities the most. Florida certainly isn't the one-size-fits-all hotspot it once was, but it's still a great place for many retirees and sun lovers. So, let's get into the latest numbers to find out which Florida cities people are moving to and leaving.

PODS, or Portable On Demand Storage, is a moving and storage company based out of Clearwater, Florida. On their blog, PODS has a new feature up about the areas of the country where people are moving to and from. There are a number of factors that go into why people want to move to or from a city. One major factor, of course, is the cost of living. If the cost of living is too high, people want to move out and find a less expensive area to live. "As we’ve seen in our data from previous years, expensive metro areas have put the squeeze on residents who are fleeing to cities and states with lower overall costs of living (and, often, better access to the outdoors)," PODS explains. In addition, "Rising rent prices, a housing struggle, high tax rates, and overcrowding are common issues in many of the cities that top this year's move-out list."

The city that the most Americans are leaving is Los Angeles. Other big metropolitan cities are also losing residents, such as San Francisco and Long Island. As for cities that most Americas are heading to, Florida used to rule the very top spots. But, now, North and South Carolina are getting major love, with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina being No. 1 on the roster of the cities that are attracting the most new residents.

So, which Florida cities are people moving to and from the most in 2024? Ocala, Florida, is No. 2 on PODS' tally of the cities that Americans are moving to. Also in the top 20 are Jacksonville at No. 9 and Orlando at No. 18. Unfortunately, the South Florida and Miami area is No. 3 on the tally of the cities that Americans are moving away from. Overall, though, Florida is still a strong contender for new residents. We can thank the sunshine and awesome current residents.

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.