Phoenix Ranks Fifth Among Top U.S. Relocation Cities
A TrustedHousesitters study of 50 U.S. destinations places Phoenix fifth on a list of cities Americans most want to move to.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Mexico
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Phoenix scored 83.8 out of 100 in a TrustedHousesitters ranking of 50 U.S. destinations, placing fifth among cities Americans most want to move to. Scottsdale ranked ninth in the same study.
Why it matters
The ranking combines actual domestic migration figures with relocation-related search demand, offering a view of where Americans are both moving and looking to move. For Phoenix residents and prospective newcomers, it underscores the metro's continued appeal as a destination.
Phoenix's metro added 22,256 net domestic migrants in 2024-25, a net migration rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents, and 195,135 cumulatively from 2020 to 2025. The study does not detail how search-demand data was weighted in the final ranking.
The players
TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters is an online platform that connects homeowners with pet-sitters and house-sitters, and it published the relocation ranking analyzed in this story.
The details
The study compared 50 U.S. destinations, combining domestic migration figures with relocation-related Google search demand. Phoenix is the highest-ranked Arizona destination, and roughly 1,270 U.S. searches per month use phrases like "moving to Phoenix" or "living in Phoenix."
Timeline
2020-2025: Period over which Phoenix's cumulative net domestic migration gain of 195,135 was measured.
2024-25: Period in which Phoenix's metro gained 22,256 net domestic migrants.
November 9, 2026: Date the relocation ranking was published.
Travel Outlook
Phoenix's 195,135 cumulative net domestic migration gain from 2020 to 2025 places it ahead of Austin and Charlotte, extending a multi-year pattern of Sun Belt inflows. The ranking reflects that sustained migration trend in how Americans are currently considering where to relocate.
For anyone considering a move, the ranking points to Phoenix as a city with strong recent inflows of new residents, which can affect housing demand and competition in the local market. Prospective movers can use the study's migration figures as a starting point when comparing Phoenix with other fast-growing metros.
The takeaway
Phoenix's strong net migration and search interest suggest it remains a leading choice for Americans considering relocation. Prospective movers comparing metros may find the migration figures a useful counterpoint to ranking scores alone.
Further reading
For more on destinations across the region, see Mexico.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AZ Big Media.
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