Strafford County

MIGRATION & IMMIGRATION


An essential value of the American lifestyle is the freedom of mobility. The Census asks respondents to identify if they lived in the same residence 5 years prior to the survey. If not, they are asked the location of their previous residence. Between 1995 and 2000, only 54.13 percent of Americans remained in the same house. This rate has been fairly steady: between 1985 and 1990, 53.29 percent remained in the same house.

Regionally, the rates differ greatly. Nevada’s population was the most mobile. About 62.6 percent of Nevada residents in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of the Nevadans living in different houses, 40.2 percent were new arrivals to the state. On the other hand, Pennsylvania’s population was the most permanent. Only 36.5 percent of Pennsylvanians in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of these people, only 15.8 percent were new arrivals to Pennsylvania.


Migration, 2000: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1995 Number Percent
Same house 53,173 50.34%
Different house 52,450 49.66%
Same county 24,053 22.77%
Different county 27,264 25.81%
Same state 11,524 10.91%
Different State 15,740 14.90%
Elsewhere in 1995* 1,133 1.07%
Total Population Age 5+ 105,623 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 44,702 46.30%
Different house 51,842 53.70%
Same county 22,054 22.84%
Different county 28,315 29.33%
Same state 10,494 10.87%
Different State 17,821 18.46%
Elsewhere in 1985* 1,473 1.53%
Total Population Age 5+ 96,544 100.00%

* "Elsewhere" includes those living in U.S. Island Areas, in foreign countries, and at sea.

Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN).

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