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In Amarillo, the domestic mobility rate reached about 17.9% in 2024, up from 16.5% in 2014. That increase of about 1.4 percentage points may look modest at first glance, but in the context of a nationwide decline, it stands out. Nearly one in five residents in the Amarillo metro area moved within the past year. That is well above the national average of 11% and significantly higher than many larger metropolitan areas.

Mobility is more than just a demographic statistic. It is closely associated with how active a housing market truly is and what it can be in the future. When households move, homes are listed. When homes are listed, buyers engage. When buyers engage, transactions happen. And when much of the country is experiencing reduced turnover - partly due to mortgage rate lock-in and partly due to demographic shifts - markets that continue to see movement often can maintain a steadier housing momentum.

Across much of the country, homeowners who secured historically low mortgage rates during 2020 and 2021 are choosing to stay put. That lock-in effect has constrained supply and reduced the number of homes coming to market. At the same time, aging populations in many regions are moving less frequently than they did in the past. All of this has contributed to the national decline in mobility.

Amarillo is defying this trend. An 18% domestic mobility rate indicates a housing market where households are still transitioning, whether moving within the metro area, relocating for employment opportunities, or adjusting housing needs as families grow or lifestyles change. Elevated mobility usually reflects greater movement in the housing market, one in which entry-level buyers, renters, and move-up households remain relatively more active.

Amarillo is not alone in this pattern. For example, Greensboro, North Carolina also experienced an increase in domestic mobility over the past decade, rising from 11.5% in 2014 to 12.5% in 2024. But Amarillo stands out not only because mobility increased, but also because the overall level remains significantly above the national average.

For REALTORS®, this matters. Markets with higher domestic mobility tend to generate more consistent transaction opportunities. Even when national sales activity slows, elevated local mobility can generate more listings, buyer demand, and more transitions between renting and homeownership. It often indicates that households are still making decisions, still relocating, and still participating in the housing market.

While mobility has declined over the past decade, Amarillo is one of the few metro areas that has moved against the broader trend. This doesn’t mean this area isn't affected by national trends. But it does suggest a level of local dynamism that supports continued housing activity.

And in today’s environment, movement itself makes a difference.