New study ranked Charlotte the ‘stickiest’ city in the US. What does that mean?
Charlotte natives and longtime residents often say the city is “packed,” which is a sarcastic way of discouraging newcomers. But a new study shows that residents are in no rush to leave the area.
MoveBuddha’s research ranks the Charlotte metro area as the best place The “stickiest” major subway in the countryThis means people there are more likely to stay close to home, even when they plan to move.
Almost one in four move calls in Charlotte ends up on the subway, according to the analysis; This rate is 76% above the national average.
Queen City, Greenville, South Carolina; Daytona Beach, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, all reported “stickiness” rates near or above 20%.
Raleigh, the only other North Carolina city on the list, ranked 15th with a “stickiness” rate of 16.5%.
Here’s what you need to know.
Skyline of the city of Charlotte, NC.
(Lila Turner/lturner@charlotteobserver.com)
Where are people moving to NC from?
About 3% of moves to North Carolina last year out of stateShowing the latest Census data. This compared to 3.6% of people moving from a different county (within the same state) and 5.1% of people moving within the same county. The Charlotte Observer reported.
Especially in Charlotte, many from out of state are moving to the metro originated from nearby states South Carolina, Florida And GeorgiaAccording to U-Haul’s mid-year analysis.
The top starting metros for intrastate migration, in ranked order, were: raleighThe report cited Greensboro, Wilmington, Asheville and Fayetteville.
Why do people move?
According to Retirement Living, eight of the top 10 states where newcomers flock are in the South (plus Nevada and Arizona).
“Perhaps the low cost of living is an attraction because states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina boast some of the most affordable cities in the country,” the researchers wrote. “Southern states also tend to have warmer climates, which most Americans prefer to cooler temperatures.”
A 2025 survey from Penske Truck Rental examined others Factors that trigger moves nationwide. The most important reasons were:
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Desire to live closer to loved ones (28%)
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Better career opportunities (27%)
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Lower cost of living/affordability (23%)
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Need for more space (23%)
The online survey sampled 279 U.S. adults who moved to a new city or town in the past five years, the company said.
The 10 stickiest metropolises in the US
The 10 stickiest metro areas in the US, according to MoveBuddha:
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Charlotte, North Carolina
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Greenville, South Carolina
How did MoveBuddha come up with its findings?
Researchers examined moveBuddha’s data Moving Cost CalculatorSearches made between March 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026 are examined. Metros needed at least 100 searches for both local and international movements to meet these criteria. The rankings were based on the share of carrier interest that remained in the same metropolitan area.
Some parts of this story previously published In the Charlotte Observer.
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