Safeload Coverage
By: Angela Serednicki, Zoocasa contributor
More than 1 million Canadians pack up their boxes and move every single year, according to Statistics Canada. Whether it’s leaving home for university, chasing a new job or finally buying that first place, chances are you’ve packed boxes more than once, and you’re probably not done yet.
So how often do Canadians actually move over the course of a lifetime, and what is driving all that movement? While there is no exact average number, Canadian housing data offers a detailed look at how, when and why we relocate, and how those choices fit into everyday life.
How Many Canadians Move Each Year
According to Statistics Canada’s Canadian Housing Survey, most Canadians will move multiple times over their lifespan. Instead of focusing on a single “typical” number of moves, it’s more useful to think about moving as something that naturally follows life’s turning points.
Canadians rarely pack up their lives just for the sake of change; instead, our moves are directly driven by evolving personal needs. When we look at why people decide to change addresses, the motivations typically cluster around these specific goals:
- Pursuing education and independence: Relocating to be closer to university campuses or to step out on our own for the first time.
- Chasing career opportunities: Moving to secure a new job or relocating simply to shorten a draining daily commute.
- Combining households: Finding a new, shared space to build a life together when moving in with a partner.
- Upsizing for growing families: Seeking out extra bedrooms, a larger backyard or access to better school districts to accommodate children.
- Shedding maintenance and excess space: Downsizing to a smaller, more manageable property once the children have moved out, and the large family home is no longer needed.
- Optimizing for retirement: Relocating to reduce daily living costs, transition to accessible single-floor living, or get closer to adult children or family members.
Your next move is almost always connected to what is happening in your life right now.
Local Moves vs. Long-Distance Moves
Most Canadians don’t uproot their lives completely when they move. In fact, the survey found that 94 percent of Canadians who moved stayed within the same province, while only 6 percent moved to another province.
That suggests many moves are about adjusting daily life rather than rewriting it: finding a place with a bit more space, a quieter or more vibrant neighborhood, shorter commutes or better access to schools, transit, or amenities. For most people, moving is about fine-tuning their lifestyle within a familiar region, not starting over somewhere entirely new.
The minority of people who move out of the province tend to do so in response to major life changes, such as a significant job opportunity or a decision to live closer to family.
Top Reasons Canadians Decide to Move
Quite frequently, the reason for a change of address is Canadians move to improve their living situation. In the previous five years, the survey reported one in four households (25.3 percent) relocated specifically to find a better-quality home.
When broken down, the top intentional drivers for moving were:
- Upgrading space or quality: 27 percent
- Becoming a homeowner: 20 percent
- Finding a more desirable neighborhood: 14 percent
- Accommodating a change in household size: 14 percent
These are intentional, future-focused decisions. People are choosing homes that better reflect how they live, who they live with, and what they value at each stage of their lives.
What Drives Different Generations to Move?
Generational differences shape not only how often Canadians move, but why. As people age, their focus naturally shifts from chasing new opportunities to protecting the life they’ve built and staying close to loved ones.
For Gen Z (born 1997-2012), moving is largely about launching their adult lives. When these young adults move across provinces, 61 percent do so for school and education. However, when they move locally within their own province, 19 percent say finding better housing is their top priority, showing that even younger renters and first-time buyers carefully weigh value and quality of life.
As we look at Millennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen X (born 1966-1980), the focus shifts to building careers and families. A new job is typically what sparks a long-distance move, with roughly 50 percent to 60 percent of people moving between provinces in Canada for career opportunities.
When they stay local, the priority shifts to upgrading their lifestyle. Roughly a third of these cohorts move within their province to secure a better living situation, seeking more space for growing families or a home that supports long-term financial stability.
When Canadians enter their golden years, the priorities change again. Baby Boomers (born 1946-1965) focus less on career advancement and more on family and simplicity. Nearly half (48 percent) of Boomers who move out of a province do so to be closer to family. Locally, 21 percent move primarily to reduce housing costs, often downsizing to lower-maintenance properties, so they can better enjoy their retirement.
Finally, for the oldest generation of Canadians, those born before 1946 (80 and older), support and connection are everything. A massive 77 percent of those moving to another province do so to be near loved ones. For local moves, their decisions blend practicality and emotion, driven equally by the need to reduce living costs and manage health-related accessibility needs.
The Rise of Multigenerational Homes in Canada
For a growing number of Canadian families, the response to rising costs and changing life circumstances is to stay together under one roof. Nearly 2.4 million Canadians lived in a multigenerational household (meaning at least three generations lived together), according to the 2021 Census. That’s up 8.6 percent from 2016.
If you’re planning a move in today’s housing market, this shift is worth factoring into your home evaluation. When touring properties, look past your immediate needs and consider how the space could adapt over the next decade.
Having a multigenerational home is especially common in high-cost provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia, where pooling resources makes day-to-day life, caregiving, and homeownership easier.
To incentivize more families living under one roof, the federal government introduced the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit in 2023 to help families build a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability. Eligible households can claim 15% of renovation costs, up to a maximum credit of $7,500.
What Really Drives How Often Canadians Move?
Although there’s no single answer to how often Canadians move, there’s a clear pattern: moves cluster around major life transitions. Starting school, changing careers, forming or ending relationships, raising children, or supporting aging parents are the true catalysts for a change of address.
Related: Condo vs House: Which Was the Better Investment in Canada Over the Last 10 Years?
What changes over time is the level of risk and responsibility, with financial and lifestyle stakes growing as people age. Understanding how your situation fits into these broader patterns can help clarify not just when to move, but why, and what you want your next home to support.
Are you approaching one of life’s major transitions and thinking about your next move? Search for homes on Zoocasa and speak with a local agent today.
Contributor’s Bio: Angela Serednicki is a Public Relations and Content Specialist at Zoocasa, an award-winning prop-tech company that uses technology to provide an intelligent, end-to-end real estate experience. Having lived in various Toronto neighbourhoods for over a decade, Angela brings an intimate knowledge of the city’s evolving real estate landscape to her reporting.
