2024 A Year in Review
By Natalia Wolting • Jan 10, 2025 UTC
2024 was a transformative year for MakeMyMove, with impressive milestones and meaningful stories underscoring the company’s mission to help communities attract new residents. Here's a look at the highlights and achievements that defined the year.
Record-Breaking Applications
MakeMyMove facilitated nearly 60,000 applications in 2024, showcasing a growing interest among remote workers seeking new opportunities and communities. Among the top destinations with the highest number of applications:
- Columbus, GA: 7,600+
- Texarkana, AR: 5,200+
- Noblesville, IN: 4,500+
- South Bend, IN: 3,600+
- Floyd County, IN: 3,200+
Applicants primarily hailed from states like Georgia, Florida, Texas and Illinois - signaling strong interstate interest. Georgia led the way with 6,295 applications per capita, followed by Tennessee and Mississippi.
Scaling Mover Success
MakeMyMove’s impact was felt across the nation as 930 movers relocated through the platform —more than doubling 2023’s total of 411 movers. Many of these movers chose to settle in communities experiencing population decline, with 58% moving to such areas. Notable relocation hotspots included:
- Noblesville, IN - 112 movers (48 households)
- South Bend, IN - 100 movers (53 households)
- Evansville, IN - 67 movers (27 households)
Off-platform mover data, such as 10 relocations to Cumberland, MD, further highlighted MakeMyMove’s broad influence.
Economic Impact
The economic benefits of relocation were substantial. Movers brought over $34 million in annual household income, with 46% of that income flowing to communities with declining populations. Their relocations had an estimated new economic impact of $41.2 million in their adopted towns.
On average, movers increased the value of their salaries by relocating to areas with a lower cost of living. For instance, a $122,000 salary in a higher-cost area felt like $137,000 in their new community.
Demographics of Movers
The profile of the movers showed a diverse and dynamic group:
- 36% had children, with an average household size of 2.3.
- 69% had no prior connection to the community they moved to.
- Movers’ professions spanned industries, with notable representation in business and finance (44.5%), engineering and technology (29%), and healthcare (6.1%).
What Makes a Program Successful?
Three key traits defined successful relocation programs:
- Clear Value Proposition - Communities effectively marketed themselves by identifying and communicating their unique appeal—whether affordability, safety, or a sense of community.
- Customer-Obsessed Service - Top programs prioritized frequent, transparent communication and hands-on support to ensure smooth transitions.
- Long-Term Vision - Retention efforts, such as events and networking opportunities, helped integrate new residents into their communities.
New Features
Based on the keys to running a successful program and feedback from the communities on our platform, MakeMyMove has released a host of new features and updates to the platform. Including:
- New capabilities for a community include customizing their page and adding content about why their community is such a great place to live.
- Expanded communication tools and options for communities to engage with their applicants.
- New Questions feature that allows communities to answer questions to potential movers.
Mover Stories: Building New Lives
Behind the data are stories of life-changing moves.
- Ayenna, who relocated from Atlanta to Lincoln, Kansas, was met with overwhelming community support, from neighbors helping her unload her moving truck to immediate invitations for local engagement.
- Elio, originally from Seattle, dreams of homeownership became a reality in South Bend, Indiana, thanks to the area’s affordability.
- Jenifer and her husband transitioned from Detroit to Eastern Kentucky, where neighbors—and fresh garden vegetables—made them feel at home.
- Pedro, a newcomer to Harlan County, experienced snow for the first time and found familiar childhood foods in his new local grocery store.
- Rachel returned to her childhood home in Dubois County after escaping the fast-paced lifestyle of NYC and joined the local workforce while achieving other professional pursuits.
Ayenna was just one mover who achieved a better life through MakeMyMove.
These narratives underscore the profound human impact of MakeMyMove’s mission.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The year ahead promises continued growth and innovation, with trends shaping the future of remote work and community development:
- Adaptation to “Back to Work” Trends - Communities will continue leveraging remote work opportunities as competition for talent evolves.
- Enhanced Recruitment Strategies - More towns will refine their pitches to prospective residents, prioritizing quality of life over monetary incentives.
- Stronger Community Building - Investments in networking, co-working spaces, and social activities will foster deeper connections among remote workers.
2024 was a year of growth, impact, and inspiration for MakeMyMove. With strengthened programs, increasing community participation, and powerful success stories, the foundation is set for an even brighter 2025.
About MakeMyMove
Remote work has freed millions of Americans to live where they want, and many are making the move to places that better match their lifestyle. In turn, cities and towns across the country are offering incentives like cash, perks and programming to remote workers who move and work from their communities. At MakeMyMove, you can explore all the places, get personalized help to find the one that’s right for you, connect with locals, and access support to make your move a piece of cake.
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