One in four Americans say politics influences where they want to live, according to a survey

A new survey released by Realtor.com found that about one in four Americans say local and national politics influence where they want to live.

The survey found that Millennials were most likely to say politics would influence their decision to move. The survey found that 33% of Millennials would factor politics into their decision.

The survey also found that 17% of Americans said they have considered moving because their politics do not align with the majority of people in their region.

The survey found that liberals were slightly more likely than conservatives to use politics as a deciding factor in moving. The poll found that 30% of liberals, 27% of conservatives and 18% of moderates would take politics into account when moving. According to Realtor.com, 24% of liberals said they have considered moving for political reasons.

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“Choosing where to live is often a complex decision and for many Americans, particularly Millennials, local and national politics are factors that influence where they live,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “With both local and national politicians making decisions that impact daily life, both socially and financially, it stands to reason that many would prefer to live in areas where policies are consistent with their own beliefs. Some even go so far as to consider moving to find that direction.”

Earlier this year, Redfin reported that one in three real estate agents said they worked with at least one client who moved for political reasons.

“Factors such as housing affordability, proximity to family and living near employment centers often outweigh political preferences or local laws when choosing where to live. But with the pandemic-related increase in remote work, more Americans have the flexibility to consider political factors, preferences and local laws when deciding which urban area to call their hometown, Redfin said.

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According to the Center for Politics, the number of counties where a candidate receives at least 80% of the vote has increased significantly in recent decades.

In 2004, only 197 counties in the U.S. gave a candidate at least 80% of their vote. In 2020, that number was nearly 700, representing 22% of the country’s counties.