Oakland 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 622,085 55.83%
Different house 492,143 44.17%
Same county 275,638 24.74%
Different county 185,319 16.63%
Same state 119,795 10.75%
Different State 65,524 5.88%
Elsewhere in 1995* 31,186 2.80%
Total Population Age 5+ 1,114,228 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 535,691 53.27%
Different house 470,004 46.73%
Same county 259,850 25.84%
Different county 196,177 19.51%
Same state 130,219 12.95%
Different State 65,958 6.56%
Elsewhere in 1985* 13,977 1.39%
Total Population Age 5+ 1,005,695 100.00%

* "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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