Nearly 1 in 5 adults have considered moving
because their political views don't align with most people in their
area
SANTA
CLARA, Calif., Oct. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2024 presidential
election nears, a new survey from Realtor.com® found
that nearly 1 in 4 (23%) Americans say local and national politics
highly influence their decision about where to live, especially for
millennials, where that number jumps to 33%. Local and national
politics have a large enough influence on some Americans that
nearly 1 in 5 (17%) have considered moving because their political
views don't align with the majority of people in their area.
"Choosing where to live is often a complex decision and for many
Americans, especially millennials, local and national politics are
factors that influence where they live," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist,
Realtor.com®. "With both local and national politicians
making decisions that impact daily life, both socially and
fiscally, it makes sense that many would prefer to live in areas
where the politics align with their own beliefs. Some go so far as
to consider moving to find that alignment."
Overall, only a little more than one third (38%) of Americans
agree that their political views align with the majority of the
people where they live and when asked to think about their most
recent move, nearly twice as many (14%) said they moved to an area
that was more aligned with their political views versus less
aligned (8%), with the balance unsure or reporting no change in
alignment. A recent report from Realtor.com® evaluates
how population shifts could reshape the political landscape.
As we look towards this presidential election, Americans'
perspectives around the importance and influence of politics on
choosing where to live along with shifting opinions on key topics
like home prices, and housing affordability for both homeowners and
renters could play an important role in the outcome of the
election.
More Influential and Important for Millennials
The
influence and importance of national and local politics on the
decision of where to live is felt the most by millennials. One
third (33%) of millennials report that their decisions about where
to live are highly influenced by national politics, compared to Gen
Z (25%), Gen X (21%) and baby boomers (16%). When asked how
important it is to live in a place where most people share their
political views, 32% of millennials said it was very or extremely
important, compared with Gen X (23%), Gen Z (22%) and baby boomers
(16%).
In fact, 28% of millennials, the most of any generation, have
considered moving because their political views don't align with
the majority of people where they live, as compared with smaller
shares for Gen Z (20%), Gen X (14%) and baby boomers (10%).
"While Gen Z is known for being very politically active, when it
comes to making decisions about where to live, more millennials are
likely to be in a phase of life where they are thinking about the
type of community in which they want to buy a home and grow their
roots," said Hannah Jones, Senior
Economic Research Analyst, Realtor.com®. "It makes
sense that millennials, more than any other age group, think it is
very important to live in a place in which most people share their
political views."
More Influential and Important for Liberals
When
looking across political affiliations, those who identify as
liberal are more likely to put importance on politics when making
decisions about where to live and think it is more important to
live in a place where most people share their political views.
About 30% of liberals say that national politics are influential
in deciding where to live, compared to only 18% of moderates and
27% of conservatives. Additionally 34% of liberals think it is
extremely or very important to live in a place where most people
share their political views compared to only 27% of conservatives
and 15% of moderates.
While 17% of Americans broadly have considered moving because
their political views do not align with those of the majority of
people where they live, almost 1 in 4 (24%) liberals have
considered doing so.
As Voter Engagement Rises, So Do Feelings of
Alignment
Frequent voters are more likely to be influenced
by politics in their decisions of where to live, and they are more
likely to feel their views align with the majority of the people
where they live. 48% of self identified frequent voters feel their
political views align with the majority of people where they live,
compared to 30% of occasional voters and 18% of inactive
voters.
Frequent voters also place a greater importance on living in a
place where most people share their political views. 31% or nearly
1 in 3 frequent voters think it is very or extremely important,
whereas only 17% of occasional voters and 8% of inactive voters
think the same.
Methodology: This poll was conducted on September 13-14, 2024, among a national sample of
2203 adults ages 18+. The survey was conducted online, and the data
was weighted to approximate a target sample of adults in the U.S.
based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region.
Results from the survey have a margin of error between +/- 2%.
About
Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® is an
open real estate marketplace built for everyone.
Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real
estate more than 25 years ago. Today, through its website and
mobile apps, Realtor.com® is a trusted guide for
consumers, empowering more people to find their way home by
breaking down barriers, helping them make the right connections,
and creating confidence through expert insights and guidance. For
professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted partner
for business growth, offering consumer connections and branding
solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world.
Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq:
NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more
information, visit Realtor.com®.
Media Contact: Mallory
Micetich, press@realtor.com
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SOURCE Realtor.com