A new study by Assistant Professor Vinayaka Gude at Elon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, suggests that during COVID-19, some Americans gravitated toward smaller cities instead of big metros, drawn by affordability, healthcare access and job opportunities.
Ever noticed friends or family trading city rents for a quieter life? Or maybe you’ve considered leaving the city yourself? Vinayaka Gude, assistant professor of business analytics, from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business researched why some people may choose smaller cities, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to find affordability, better healthcare options and promising job prospects.
Gude’s study draws on house-hunting data from Redfin across 132 U.S. cities, suggesting the pandemic influenced a shift in migration patterns, though individual situations vary widely.
Key Findings from the Research
- Affordability matters – Many smaller cities showed lower living costs, which can appeal to some Americans looking to stretch their paychecks.
- Healthcare factors – Areas with lower cardiovascular death rates and higher insurance coverage tended to see increased interest from house-seekers.
- Proximity to larger cities – Some mid-sized cities near major metros offer a balance between cost and access to job markets.
- Unemployment rates – People often weigh employment prospects, though smaller cities sometimes rival big ones in opportunities.
“This research reveals how data can uncover potential reasons people move,” Gude said. “It also reminds us that choices about where to live depend on many personal factors.”
Co-authored by Ricardo Melendez from Texas A&M University-Commerce and Monirul Islam, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the paper, “Factors influencing anticipated migration patterns across metropolitan cities in the United States between 2018 and 2022”, was published in Frontiers of Urban Rural Planning.
“I use these insights in class to show how advanced data tools can transform complex numbers into clear stories,” said Gude. “Students learn to build data-driven narratives that inform policy and spark real solutions in urban planning.”
Gude joined Elon University in Fall 2024 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He teaches Data Visualization, storytelling, and Applied Healthcare Statistics. His research interests include using a wide range of computational intelligence approaches to solve problems in disaster management, healthcare, and urban planning.