3 FL Cities Among Top 10 Places People Are Moving To In 2026: Report

Moving data shows three Florida cities in the top 10 and four statewide in the top 20 for move-ins this year, a report from PODS said.

By Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff

Jun 8, 2026 1:26 pm EDT | Updated Jun 8, 2026 1:32 pm EDT

Three Florida cities landed in the top 10 of PODS' list of places people are moving to this year, according to its 2026 Moving Trends Report.

Ocala was the highest-ranking city in the Sunshine State on the list retaining the No. 2 spot for the third straight year.

Meanwhile, Sarasota and Jacksonville took the No. 9 and No. 10 spots, respectively. Sarasota made a return to the ranking after dropping off last year, and Jacksonville held the same spot it earned in 2025.

Orlando also came in at No. 16 on this year’s list, helping Florida tie Tennessee as the most popular move-in state in the report.

On the move-out side, South Florida ranked No. 2 among places people are leaving in 2026, up one spot from last year.

The report, published May 27, is based on PODS customer moving data and paired with results from the company’s inaugural Moving Mindset Study, a voluntary survey about why people move and what they want in a new community.

PODS reported that affordability overtook career as the top deciding factor, with 58 percent of respondents naming it a top motivator. Community and connection followed at 41 percent.

For the fourth year in a row, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/Wilmington, North Carolina, held the No. 1 spot on the list of top cities where people are moving.

Florida’s gains were notable because last year the company saw the state’s migration numbers cooling, PODS said.

“This year, both [Florida and Tennessee] made a showing with four cities on the top 20 list for most move-ins,” the report said, adding, “Florida technically takes the cake with three cities in the top 10.”

The company described a mixed picture for Florida. PODS said that the state remains attractive, in part, because of no state income tax, but it also pointed to rising housing costs, insurance pressures tied to natural disasters, and a 4.1 percent year-over-year decline in Florida’s housing market as of April 2026, according to Zillow data cited in the report.