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2021 Best Cities to Live in the USA for Growth Opportunities

Cities with Growth Opportunities

2021 is already halfway over. While this year has seen more normalcy than 2020 did, there are some permanent changes that will stay. One of those changes is companies allowing employees to work remotely. When the COVID19 pandemic first went into effect, almost all major companies set up employees to work from their homes to promote and protect the health and safety of their workforce and operations. 

Many companies now are looking into allowing their employees to work remotely full time, even as life begins to return to normal. Now that employees no longer have to commute to an office every day, it gives them the ability to live anywhere they want. This has people moving all over the country. But what are the best cities to move to those looking for a full-time change?

20 of the Best Cities to Move to for Growth

While most “best cities” lists rely on a certain level of subjectivity, many tools have attempted to perfect the art through evaluation, scoring systems, and other analysis. The following list looks at the overall livability of each area with a focus on positive economic activity. 

  1. The Woodlands, TX
  2. Arlington, VA
  3. Naperville, IL
  4. Overland Park, KS
  5. Cambridge, MA
  6. Ann Arbor, MI
  7. Plano, TX
  8. Columbia, MD
  9. Berkeley, CA
  10. Bellevue, WA
  11. Irvine, CA
  12. Richardson, TX
  13. Seattle, WA
  14. Madison, WI
  15. San Francisco, CA
  16. Sunnyvale, CA
  17. Raleigh, NC
  18. Boulder, CO
  19. Sandy Springs, GA
  20. Torrance, CA

While these cities all have different cultures, climates, and costs, they were chosen based on many different aspects of living. Factors include livability, job opportunities, homeownership rates, cost of living, and their track record of economic growth. Most of these cities have seen consistent growth for the better part of 10 years, making them some of the best cities to move to for growth opportunities. Many of these cities are considered mid-size, meaning that while they are growing, they are not yet the size of mega-cities such as Chicago, New York City, or Los Angeles. 

Midsize cities that are growing tend to offer some of the best job markets in the country. This could come into play if someone who is looking for change is unable to work remotely in their current career. Additionally, the availability of job opportunities is critical for trailing spouses or partners who wish to continue their own personal growth and achieve their career goals in their new destination.

Things to Consider When Moving to a New State

While it’s nice to be able to live anywhere because of the ability to work remotely, there are many factors that should be considered and questions that should be answered before relocating.

Cost of Living

Affordability is typically one of the biggest factors relating to the decision to relocate. Can your current salary or income keep up in the new city? Will you be able to afford the cost of fuel, groceries, and other basic living items that might be more expensive (or cheaper) in the new place. 

Healthcare costs, education, and culture should be other factors to look at when looking to move into a new city.

Real Estate Market

2020 and 2021 have resulted in a boom in real estate that shows no signs of stopping in the near term. The average cost of homes rose just over 11% nationally (its largest annual gain in 15 years) and should be brought to any conversation about the best cities to live in the USA. Will your current home sell for what it’s worth? Can you afford a nice enough home in the new area? While it is a great time for sellers, it is more expensive for buyers than before.

Quality of Life

When selecting the best cities to move to, local amenities and quality of life play an outsized role that many forget to include in their decision to relocate. Is there an availability of quality schooling at the new location? How are the average commute times? Is efficient public transportation available? Is there a good balance of shopping, climate, recreation, and dining available?

How We Can Help

GMS is a leader in the global mobility industry. We help companies draft relocation policies for their employees, helping them get from point A to point B while minimizing common pain points, where possible. It is our goal to make the relocation experience smooth for those trying to relocate to the best cities in the USA. GMS’ services can help every step of the way, from pre-decision to departure, to help getting settled in the new destination.

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

Are you ready to talk to a Mobility Pro? Learn how GMS can optimize your mobility program, enhance your policies to meet today’s unique challenges, receive an in-depth industry benchmark, or simply ask us a question. Your Mobility Pro will be in touch within 1 business day for a no-pressure, courtesy consultation.

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Discover Your Potential Relocation Cost Savings

Relocation Cost Savings

To have the most successful and efficient workforce mobility program, mobility specialists and HR professionals should regularly evaluate their company’s relocation costs, benefits, and policies in order to uncover cost savings or areas in your relocation policies that may need improvement. Many companies manage their relocation needs in-house while others use relocation management companies to mobilize their workforce. Relocation policies should be reviewed with regularity to assure the company is spending wisely and saving money where possible. 

 

GMS makes this process simple with our industry-leading MyRelocation® technology. In addition to its client and employee-facing portals, MyRelocation® offers a suite of tools designed with your needs in mind. 

 

GMS is happy to announce our new Relocation Cost Savings Calculator. This easy-to-use tool provides companies with insight as to how much they could be saving when it comes to their current relocation program. If it has been a while since your company’s policies have been reviewed, or you are just starting to look into mobility services, this calculator can help determine your organization’s potential cost savings. 

 

It is not uncommon for companies to go years without changing or updating their relocation policies. While common, this practice can add up to serious costs over time as the direct costs related to relocation benefits react to various factors. Transportation prices change, home prices fluctuate, temporary housing costs increase, and the cost of living is constantly changing. To assure that your company is saving the most money while giving your employees the best relocation experience possible, it is important to check in on how you can be saving.

Calculating your Relocation Cost Savings

The innovative GMS Relocation Cost Savings Calculator looks at a range of common relocation program areas for cost-saving opportunities. With a user-selectable option for companies who handle mobility in-house or with an outsourced relocation management company. Key mobility policy elements that the calculator can highlight include: 

  • Program Fees
  • Real Estate Services
  • Household Goods Transportation and Storage
  • Temporary Housing Programs
  • International Relocation Services
  • Program Funding

The Cost Savings Calculator is quick and easy to use, and once various data points are input, the relocation calculator will compute your potential savings in a downloadable PDF to allow you to easily compare your current relocation costs against your potential savings. After that, a GMS Mobility Pro will reach out personally to help validate your potential relocation costs savings estimate, provide no-pressure guidance, and answer any questions you may have.

Validate Your Savings Using Our Relocation Cost Calculator

Are you ready to discover how and where your mobility program may benefit from a reduction in relocation costs? Simply complete the form below and a GMS Mobility Pro will provide you with a link to work through the tool. It is easy to use and only takes a couple of minutes if you have the right information handy. 


The GMS Relocation Cost Savings Calculator is free to use and comes with no obligation and no pressure to use. Get started now to discover how much your organization could be saving today.

Ready to Calculate YOur Program Savings? Request Access Now!

Are you ready to calculate your potential relocation program savings? Request access to our easy-to-use Relocation Cost Savings Calculator. Your Mobility Pro will grant your access request within 1 business day.

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Corporate Housing Trends for 2021

2021 Corporate Housing

GMS is here to make sure you keep up with all the latest trends in the corporate housing industry for 2021. As corporate housing needs are on the rise, is the inventory there to keep up? Here is a breakdown of some statistics around corporate housing trends for 2021:

North America

Estimated 30% overall reduction in the number of available corporate apartments due to:

  • Operators ending leases with apartment communities as demand dropped
    • Some operators broke their leases and handed keys back
    • Other operators could not pay rent, resulting in a default on their leases
    • May lead to strained relations between the higher-end apartment building owners where corporate housing providers place most rentals 
    • May stop some operators from acquiring additional inventory as demand increases

Globally

Most serviced apartment buildings remain in business. Being property-based and not leased has helped the inventory of corporate apartments to remain stable.

Major corporate housing companies exited the business in 2020, and other venture capital-backed brands also exited, further tightening supply. Several smaller and regional corporate housing operators are on the fence and may exit the business.

The outlook of trends in corporate housing for 2021 is for a rebound in business. While Q1 remained depressed, the volume should rise substantially in North America and globally during Q2 and Q3 as various markets continue to work towards reopening.

What Does This Mean Moving Forward?

With extremely tight and competitive real estate markets throughout the country, many companies are looking at corporate housing as an interim solution. Many states’ housing markets are projected to see continuous competition in the home purchase market through 2021. This is where corporate housing will play a big role in allowing companies to relocate employees to short-term rentals until the markets start to level out and transferees have a shot at purchasing a full-time home in their new destination. 

It is also worth noting that experts expect to see a 5-8% price rise in corporate housing costs from 2021-2025. Most temporary housing companies utilize a per-day pricing model or a bundled pricing model based on the number of employees.

Contact GMS Today

GMS’s certified team is always up to date on all the latest trends in corporate housing. Reach out today and we’ll ensure all of your relocation needs are met. We can help you relocate employees from anywhere in the world. Reach out to us online to get in touch.

What's Trending in Workforce Mobility for 2021?

This article is an excerpt from our 2021 Workforce Mobility Forecast. Download a complete copy today, or watch a recording of our latest Thought Leadership Series webinar on the trends that are shaping the industry.

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