These cities are the keenest to move house in 2025
- Bournemouth is the keenest area in the UK to move home, with 38,132 average monthly searches for moving-related topics per 100,000 residents.
- Plymouth is second, with 35,198 average monthly searches for moving, and Birmingham is third, with 35,181.
- Derry is the least keen area to move house, with only 3,170 average monthly searches related to moving house.
A new study has revealed that Bournemouth is the keenest area to move house in 2025.
Moving platform Getamover.co.uk analysed Google search data over the past year for 78 areas of the UK across 331 search terms related to moving house to see which areas are the keenest to move in 2025. These search terms included terms for sites like “Rightmove” and “Zoopla”, combinations of these were paired with terms such as “houses for sale”, as well as searches for topics like “mortgage calculator” and “stamp duty calculator”.
| The UK areas keenest to move house in 2025 | ||||
| Rank | Location | Population | Average Monthly Keyword Searches | Keyword Searches per 100,000 Population |
| 1. | Bournemouth | 229,655 | 87,573 | 38,132 |
| 2. | Plymouth | 266,955 | 93,963 | 35,198 |
| 3. | Birmingham | 1,121,375 | 394,509 | 35,181 |
| 4. | Bristol | 585,485 | 192,558 | 32,889 |
| 5. | Newcastle upon Tyne | 358,680 | 115,516 | 32,206 |
| 6. | Leeds | 536,280 | 170,539 | 31,800 |
| 7. | Bolton | 225,375 | 69,638 | 30,899 |
| 8. | Stockport | 194,520 | 59,294 | 30,482 |
| 9. | Peterborough | 219,255 | 66,157 | 30,173 |
| 10. | Manchester | 723,780 | 217,197 | 30,009 |
Bournemouth topped the list of the UK areas keenest to move in 2025, averaging 38,132 searches per 100,000 residents for topics related to moving house in 2024. Rightmove was the most searched term in Bournemouth, searched 56,458 times a month on average, and was the most searched property site in the UK.
Plymouth was second, with 35,198 average monthly searches related to moving. Zoopla was the second highest searched term in Plymouth related to relocation, looked up 13,808 times a month. It was also the nation’s second most searched property site.
Birmingham ranked third, amassing 35,181 average monthly searches per 100,000 for moving-related topics. The third most popular search in Birmingham was “mortgage calculator”, searched 13,542 times a month on average. This was also the fourth most popular search nationally.
Bristol was fourth, tallying 32,889 monthly searches per 100,000 on average.
In fifth was Newcastle, with 32,206 searches per 100,000 on average per month related to moving, and Leeds was sixth, with 31,800.
Bolton, Stockport, Peterborough, and Manchester completed the top 10 with 30,899, 30,482, 30,173, and 30,009 average monthly searches related to moving house, respectively.
David Burrows, head of Getamover.co.uk, commented on the findings,
“It’s fascinating to see which areas searched most for terms related to moving house as it shows which areas may be gathering information the most before entering the property market.
“However, it’s important to remember that moving house isn’t just looking for properties, sorting the finances, and signing on the dotted line. Once these have been finalised, then comes the task of actually moving. This can be a big logistical undertaking, with lots of little things you might not think of before they happen.
“Before a move, make sure your details are up to date with organisations such as the DVLA to make sure documents such as your driving licence are up to date, as you may need to use them for rentals. Check with your contents insurance provider what may be covered during a move and take appropriate extra coverage if needed. Collecting boxes and packing materials in the weeks before a move can save a lot of money too.
“You should compare removal companies before the move too. Shopping around can save you a lot of money and headaches on moving day since a trusted moving company will make a move as smooth as possible.”
You May Also Enjoy
Mould and damp – what you need to know ahead of winter
Rental price and average salary tracker – September 2025
The cities where buying beats renting – with just a 5% deposit
Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Rates Tracker
Data and commentary from Rightmove on stamp duty reforms
