San Mateo 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 374,685 56.56%
Different house 287,824 43.44%
Same county 136,830 20.65%
Different county 111,679 16.86%
Same state 83,311 12.58%
Different State 28,368 4.28%
Elsewhere in 1995* 39,315 5.93%
Total Population Age 5+ 662,509 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 316,818 52.31%
Different house 288,858 47.69%
Same county 139,428 23.02%
Different county 117,038 19.32%
Same state 85,034 14.04%
Different State 32,004 5.28%
Elsewhere in 1985* 32,392 5.35%
Total Population Age 5+ 605,676 100.00%

* "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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