Some places make it easy to plant deep roots. Stable neighborhoods, livable costs, and the kind of safety that keeps people put. A new analysis from Highland Cabinetry ranks states by home “stickiness” using three concrete signals: how long people stay, how many have lived in the same home for 10+ years, and how many residents leave per 1,000 people. Median tenure data comes from the Census Bureau’s ACS Table B25039, and outbound moves from Census state-to-state migration flows. Long stays line up with aging-in-place trends seen in AARP’s national home preferences survey.
1. West Virginia
- Population: 1,753,113
- Median tenure: 10 years
- Households 10+ years: 73%
- Safety index: 49
- Cost of living: $34,861
Mountain communities reward familiarity. With a decade-long median tenure and nearly three-quarters of households past the 10-year mark, neighborhoods change slowly and support systems grow strong. Lower housing costs keep moves optional rather than forced.
Outbound moves per 1,000 stay moderate compared with coastal states, so schools and local services see less churn. For retirees who want to age in place, long-staying neighbors and stable costs make the day-to-day easier.
2. Pennsylvania
- Population: 12,829,324
- Median tenure: 10 years
- Households 10+ years: 72%
- Safety index: 50
- Cost of living: $40,066
Historic housing stock and steady job centers help people stick. Two-thirds of households have crossed the 10-year mark, and a long tenure median signals neighborhoods where families move once and stay. Suburban school districts see the benefit in volunteer depth and stable enrollment.
Costs run manageable outside the big metros, so downsizing can happen within the same town instead of across state lines. That keeps grandparents close and support networks intact.
3. Maine
- Population: 1,385,562
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 72%
- Safety index: 64
- Cost of living: $39,899
Coastal towns and inland mill communities share one trait: people stick around. A high share of 10-year households reflects tight social ties and slower real-estate turnover. Many owners renovate older homes rather than move, a pattern common in long-stay states per ACS tenure data.
Outbound rates remain low, and seasonal work blends with remote jobs to make staying viable. Cold winters don’t scare off residents who’ve built a rhythm across decades.
4. Michigan
- Population: 9,939,831
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 71%
- Safety index: 48
- Cost of living: $37,111
Auto-belt suburbs and lake towns see long relationships with homes. A 9-year median tenure and strong 10-year share point to neighborhoods where kids grow up near the same parks and schools. Home prices remain within reach in many counties, reducing pressure to move.
When families do change houses, they often stay local, keeping church, teams, and doctors the same. That continuity supports aging-in-place plans many older owners prefer, mirroring AARP’s findings.
5. New York
- Population: 19,365,855
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 72%
- Safety index: 51
- Cost of living: $49,623
High prices don’t translate to high turnover outside the hottest ZIP codes. In many boroughs and upstate towns, long tenure runs the show—multi-generational homes and rent-stabilized units keep people rooted. That gives blocks a familiar face over time.
Outbound movers per 1,000 are higher than some neighbors, but the staying majority drives the median. Proximity to top hospitals and transit reduces the need to relocate as needs change.
6. Mississippi
- Population: 2,907,634
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 71%
- Safety index: 52
- Cost of living: $32,336
Family land and modest housing costs keep residents anchored. With seven in ten households past the 10-year mark, neighborhoods see slow, steady change. That stability helps churches, schools, and civic clubs maintain deep volunteer benches.
Moves tend to be within state rather than cross-country, keeping extended family nearby. Lower monthly costs give owners room to repair and improve instead of sell.
7. Vermont
- Population: 642,670
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 71%
- Safety index: 68
- Cost of living: $43,927
Small towns and strong safety scores support long stays. A high 10-year share pairs with local schools and clinics that know families by name. Home upgrades are common; moving is less so.
Outbound rates are modest, and many shifts are within New England. Walkable centers and active town halls reward residents who invest in place over time.
8. New Hampshire
- Population: 1,389,863
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 71%
- Safety index: 66
- Cost of living: $45,575
Stable neighborhoods and low taxes help owners stay put. With more than seven in ten households in place for 10+ years, coaches, volunteers, and neighbors tend to be the same faces year after year.
Boston-area commuters can keep jobs while enjoying slower-moving housing markets, reducing pressure to upsize or flee during rate swings.
9. Ohio
- Population: 11,660,292
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 69%
- Safety index: 48
- Cost of living: $35,123
Manufacturing towns and growing metros combine to produce long tenures. Affordable housing helps families upgrade within the same school district, so social ties persist. Outbound moves per 1,000 are on the low side for a large state.
For retirees, well-priced homes and close medical networks make staying practical. That fits national aging-in-place patterns the ACS and AARP both track.
10. New Jersey
- Population: 9,192,631
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 71%
- Safety index: 53
- Cost of living: $49,511
Despite higher costs, tenure stays long once families lock into a good town and school system. The 10+ year share is strong, reflecting neighborhoods where upgrades mean renovations, not relocations.
Transit access lets residents change jobs without changing addresses. That keeps grandparents close and carpools consistent, even when careers shift.
11. Wisconsin
- Population: 5,857,364
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 53
- Cost of living: $37,374
Midwestern prices and steady employers keep churn low. Two-thirds of households have passed the 10-year mark, and that shows up in stable youth leagues and PTA rosters.
Winter doesn’t scare off residents who like their routines. When moves happen, they’re often across town, not across state lines, matching the Census migration patterns.
12. California
- Population: 38,562,167
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 69%
- Safety index: 45
- Cost of living: $53,171
High costs push some out, yet a large share of households stays put for a decade or more, especially in established suburbs and coastal cities. Rent stabilization and long-held mortgages anchor many families.
When owners improve rather than move, tenure rises. That shows in ACS tenure medians that remain long despite headline out-migration.
13. Connecticut
- Population: 3,576,682
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 52
- Cost of living: $46,912
Classic New England housing and commuter rails support long stays. Families invest in upgrades and rely on local schools over the long haul, raising the 10-year share.
Outbound moves are tempered by strong in-state options for job changes without address changes. That preserves community ties and volunteer depth.
14. Minnesota
- Population: 5,673,119
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 59
- Cost of living: $41,498
High civic engagement shows up in housing stability. Two-thirds of households have stayed 10+ years, and winters reinforce the value of close neighbors and familiar services.
Affordable suburbs let families right-size without leaving town. That continuity keeps youth sports, churches, and nonprofits well staffed.
15. Delaware
- Population: 1,032,638
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 53
- Cost of living: $44,389
Retirement-friendly taxes and small-state convenience keep moves down. Many newcomers become long-timers, nudging the 10-year share higher each cycle.
Proximity to Philly and Baltimore supports career changes without a new mortgage, so people upgrade their homes instead of their addresses.
16. Louisiana
- Population: 4,524,085
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 43
- Cost of living: $35,576
Cultural roots and family networks keep residents close. Even with weather risks, many households pass the 10-year threshold and invest in repairs, not relocations.
Lower costs help owners ride out rate swings. That translates to deep neighborhood ties and steady school communities.
17. Massachusetts
- Population: 6,936,108
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 69%
- Safety index: 64
- Cost of living: $51,806
Top schools and healthcare anchor long-term residents despite higher costs. Many households cross the 10-year mark, especially in suburbs with strong transit.
Owners prefer renovations and dormers over moving, preserving friendships and school continuity. That keeps tenure metrics high year after year.
18. Illinois
- Population: 12,427,191
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 69%
- Safety index: 48
- Cost of living: $45,389
Outside downtown cores, many neighborhoods show slow turnover and deep roots. Two-thirds of households have more than a decade in their homes, and that shows in well-established community groups.
Affordable collars let families move within the same county as needs change, avoiding disruptive long-distance moves.
19. Hawaii
- Population: 1,420,012
- Median tenure: 9 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 60
- Cost of living: $55,491
High costs meet high commitment. Multi-generational homes and tight communities help residents stay long term, pushing median tenure to nine years.
When people move, it’s often within island rather than off-island, keeping schools and clinics familiar. Stability offsets some of the budget strain.
20. Maryland
- Population: 6,110,314
- Median tenure: 8 years
- Households 10+ years: 68%
- Safety index: 54
- Cost of living: $48,235
Federal and medical employers encourage long stays. Many households cross the 10-year line while changing roles within the same metro, keeping commute patterns and community ties steadier.
Close access to top hospitals supports aging-in-place plans, a priority echoed in national surveys.
21. Indiana
- Population: 6,783,874
- Median tenure: 7 years
- Households 10+ years: 67%
- Safety index: 56
- Cost of living: $36,207
Fast-growing suburbs pull the median down a bit, yet two-thirds of households have still stayed a decade or longer. That mix of new arrivals and long-timers keeps neighborhoods energetic but stable.
Manageable costs let families trade up within the same town instead of moving states. That keeps grandparents nearby and support networks intact.
Study Source: Highland Cabinetry
