Is Your City Worth It? | The Top Cities in America, Ranked and Scored by iMoving

If a city’s getting a wave of migration, that means they’re doing something right. Right?

Actually, the data tells a different story. iMoving searched through moving and migration patterns to determine whether the popular cities were actually the best cities - and when we analyzed housing costs, household incomes, and net migration, we found that a big population boom doesn’t always mean a more livable location.

• Austin topped our list of the most “worth it” cities in 2024. The city enjoyed 55,000 new arrivals, and though the median home price of $520,000 was higher than other locations, the median household income of $81,000 was enough to offset the cost of real estate.
• Miami topped the list for net domestic migration with 70,000 newcomers. However, those 2024 arrivals had to deal with high median home prices ($675,000) and a median household income that wasn’t enough to make the city worth the move.
• Phoenix scored low across the board, with 50,000 arrivals, a $450,000 median home price, and a median household income of $71,000. The city wasn’t last place in any category, but consistent low scores made Phoenix the least “worth it” city on our list.

1. Austin, Texas

Population: 929,882

Net Domestic Migration: 55,000

Median Home Price: $520,000

Median Household Income: $81,000

iMoving Worth It Score: 0.6173

2. Charlotte, North Carolina

Population: 911,311

Net Domestic Migration: 62,000

Median Home Price: $423,5000

Median Household Income: $73,000

iMoving Worth It Score: 0.5963

3. Dallas, Texas

Population: 1.303 Million

Net Domestic Migration: 57,000

Median Home Price: $357,000

Median Household Income: $72,000

iMoving Worth It Score: 0.5843

4. Raleigh, North Carolina

Population: 482,295

Net Domestic Migration: 59,000

Median Home Price: $465,000

Median Household Income: $75,000

iMoving Worth It Score: 0.56

5. Atlanta, Georgia

Population: 510,823

Net Domestic Migration: 65,000

Median Home Price: $415,000

Median Household Income: 68,000

iMoving Worth It Score: 0.5024

At iMoving, we have over a decade of experience in the moving and relocation business. Over all that time, we’ve helped thousands of Americans move to new cities, new counties, and new states. 

Our in-house moving statistics come from quote requests, completed moves, and 3000+ verified mover tariffs. For this study, we used our own dynamic data, as well as trusted resources such as the US Census Bureau, the National Association of Realtors, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

By the way: If you want to see nationwide moving trends across all 50 states, we’ve got you covered. Check out our study on American moving patterns to see a state-by-state analysis.

A ton of people moving in doesn’t mean the city’s worth the trouble - it just means a ton of people are moving in. To really nail down whether a city was worth the move, we came up with the iMoving Worth It score.

The Worth It score is based on a few key factors:

• Net domestic migration (40%). We still needed to include net migration numbers, since a city can’t really be “worth the move” if nobody’s moving there in the first place.
• Income-to-home-price ratio (30%). Instead of just using raw home prices, we looked at the ratio between household income and home prices. This gave us a better picture of a city’s livability, rather than just affordability.
• Median household income (30%). We also used the median household income as an indicator of a worthwhile move. A higher median household income also signifies greater economic opportunities for transplants.

After we compiled all this data, we normalized it using min-max scaling to ensure each factor contributed proportionally to the final iMoving Worth It score.

These cities saw high numbers of domestic migration - but how did they stack up by our metrics? Take a look at these moving hotspots, and see where they ranked with the iMoving Worth It score.

Moving trends are always changing, which is why iMoving tracks the latest moving data and compiles it all into a monthly report. Take a look at our live moving page to see where Americans were moving last month, and see how those moving patterns changed year-over-year as well.

Looking for the most Worth It city in America? When it comes to bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat Austin. But whether you’re searching for a high-migration, high-income city, or just trying to get out of a town that’s not worth the trouble, iMoving can get you on the road easier than ever.

If you’re ready to get moving, so are we. Check out our moving cost calculator, and book your move in just a few clicks.

1. U.S. Census Bureau – Net Domestic Migration Data (2024)

URL: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/population-estimates-international-migration.html

2. U.S. Census Bureau – Median Household Income Data (2024)

URL: https://data.census.gov/

3. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) – House Price Index (2024)

URL: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Pages/House-Price-Index-Datasets.aspx

4. National Association of Realtors (NAR) – Home Price Trends (2024)

URL: https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nearly-90-of-metro-areas-registered-home-price-gains-in-fourth-quarter-of-2024

5. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Housing Affordability Index

URL: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/haf.html

6. Wall Street Journal – Miami’s Housing Market in 2024

URL: https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/miami-real-estate-entry-level-homes-62f252d3

7. New York Post – Cities Gaining the Most New Residents in 2024

URL: https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/real-estate/people-are-flocking-to-these-4-desirable-cities-as-homeowners-sale-prices-skyrocket/

8. CT Insider – Hartford's Ranking as the Most Expensive Place to Live

URL: https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/ct-hartford-ranks-as-most-expensive-place-to-live-19730608.php

9. U.S. News & World Report – Most Expensive & Affordable Cities to Live in 2024

URL: https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/most-expensive-places-to-live

10. HSH.com – Income Required to Buy a Home in 50 Largest Metros (4Q24)

URL: https://www.hsh.com/press-releases/income-required-to-buy-a-home-in-50-largest-metros-4Q24.html

11. Visual Capitalist – The Salary Needed to Buy a Home in 50 U.S. Cities in 2024

URL: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-salary-needed-to-buy-a-home-in-50-u-s-cities/

12. Construction Coverage – Cities With the Highest Home Price-to-Income Ratios [2024 Edition]

URL: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/cities-with-highest-home-price-to-income-ratios

13. Financial Samurai – Income Required To Afford A Typical Home By City In 2025

URL: https://www.financialsamurai.com/income-required-to-afford-a-typical-home-by-city/

14. HSH.com – The Salary You Must Earn to Buy a Home in the 50 Largest Metros

URL: https://www.hsh.com/finance/mortgage/salary-home-buying-25-cities.html