Move for Love? Four in 10 Say ‘Yes’

Moving across town for a romantic partner can seem daunting.

But what about relocating at least an hour – if not more – away to be with the one you love? That can be a gamble, but for some people, they say it’s worth the risk. In a recent LendingTree survey, 41% of adults said they have moved for romantic love. Younger adults, including millennials (56%) and Generation Z (52%), were more likely than Generation X (37%) and baby boomers (19%) to have packed up and left town for love. Men are more likely than women to move for love (45% compared to 36%), but women are more likely to regret it (22% compared to 9%).  Not surprisingly, the top reason for regret was a breakup (62%), followed by not liking the new area they had moved to (25%).

While moving is generally a pain, 10% of people surveyed said they moved to be closer to their partner, while 10% chose their college based on their high school sweetheart’s choice and 10% said their partner got a new job and they elected to join them. Another 9% moved after getting engaged or married and 3% moved during the COVID-19 pandemic to quarantine with their partner.

About half of respondents moved at least 250 miles for their significant other, while 11% reported moving 1,000 miles or more. Thirty-nine percent of people who moved said they purchased a home with their partner, while 49% rented a place together.

Overall, 52% of respondents said they are ultimately glad they moved for love.