Redfin said blue-county residents are moving out to counties where they can afford the lifestyle they want
More people migrated from Democratic counties to Republican counties than from red to blue in the first half of 2017, according to a Redfin analysis of user searches.
The analysis classified counties as blue if a Democratic candidate for 2016 won by more than 20 percentage points and vice versa for red counties.
The study found that 7.4% more people migrated out of blue counties than into them. Meanwhile, red counties saw about 1% more people move in than out. Purple counties, or those with a balanced share of Democrats and Republicans, saw 3.9% more migrants move in than out.
Redfin attributed the changes to economic and political factors. It said housing is becoming less available and less affordable in the biggest urban counties, almost all of which are blue. Redfin also cited a trend among Americans to self-sort by lifestyle and political partisanship.
The trend was pronounced in swing states such as Florida. Swing state counties with more Democratic voters lost 9.2% more people than they gained. Republican counties in these states gained 2.3% more than they lost. Meanwhile, swing counties saw 1.8% more people move in than out.
“As blue counties are becoming increasingly less affordable, we see a great number of residents moving to red counties where they can afford the lifestyle they want,” Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson said. “At Redfin, we see this as a sign of hope for a less divided country, where people with differing views gain better understanding and tolerance of each other through sheer proximity.”
According to the analysis, the trend was most evident in blue counties in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, which respectively saw 12.7%, 12.1%, and 10.3% more people leave then come. Louisiana, New Mexico, and Indiana bucked the trend as each saw growth in the bluest counties.
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The analysis classified counties as blue if a Democratic candidate for 2016 won by more than 20 percentage points and vice versa for red counties.
The study found that 7.4% more people migrated out of blue counties than into them. Meanwhile, red counties saw about 1% more people move in than out. Purple counties, or those with a balanced share of Democrats and Republicans, saw 3.9% more migrants move in than out.
Redfin attributed the changes to economic and political factors. It said housing is becoming less available and less affordable in the biggest urban counties, almost all of which are blue. Redfin also cited a trend among Americans to self-sort by lifestyle and political partisanship.
The trend was pronounced in swing states such as Florida. Swing state counties with more Democratic voters lost 9.2% more people than they gained. Republican counties in these states gained 2.3% more than they lost. Meanwhile, swing counties saw 1.8% more people move in than out.
“As blue counties are becoming increasingly less affordable, we see a great number of residents moving to red counties where they can afford the lifestyle they want,” Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson said. “At Redfin, we see this as a sign of hope for a less divided country, where people with differing views gain better understanding and tolerance of each other through sheer proximity.”
According to the analysis, the trend was most evident in blue counties in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, which respectively saw 12.7%, 12.1%, and 10.3% more people leave then come. Louisiana, New Mexico, and Indiana bucked the trend as each saw growth in the bluest counties.
Related stories:
Inventory shortage keeps housing demand steady
Redfin: Home prices surge, inventory plunges in August
