AUSTIN, Texas — Growth in the Lone Star State’s capital city is predicted to slow in 2026 as movers trade out dense, urban hubs for more stable, mid-sized communities, according to a Nov. 5 study from moveBuddha.
Seach trends pulled from moveBudhha’s online moving cost calculator between 2019 and October 2025 predicted the top 25 most desirable places to live in 2026. Most movers are seeking to call mid-sized cities in the south or southwest home, with a large preference given to locations anchored by a university.
However, even for “cities that don’t fit the profile, many are still winning when they’re able to offer big-city amenities minus big-city friction,” the study said…