The Top 7 Relocation Destinations in the U.S.

It stands to reason that the largest enterprises in the United States are responsible for the vast majority of stateside employee relocations. After all, the biggest employers often have multiple locations within the U.S., if not the world.

Corporate relocation professionals are used to sending employees to all manner of locations around the country. And while there are some small towns with big employers – think Lowe’s in Mooresville, North Carolina, or Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey – the majority of the largest enterprises call some of the largest metropolitan areas their home.

When considering the top relocation destinations in the U.S., we found the best course of action was to list the cities with the largest concentration of large corporations. Take a look:

New York City: The Big Apple ranks as the city with the most Fortune 500 companies in the country. With Wall Street still attracting some of the largest banks in the country, it’s no surprise that NYC continues to lead the pack. New York is also home to some of the most prominent industry players, including pharmaceuticals, airlines, and television. Companies that come to mind are JP Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Pfizer, and Morgan Stanley. So it’s the city that prides itself on never sleeping for great job opportunities, Broadway plays, and no less than 65 Michelin star restaurants.

Dallas: Corporate America likes the warm welcome provided by the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially the zero personal tax offered by business-friendly policymakers. Some of the large corporations operating in DFW include the biggest telecom company in the world, AT&T, healthcare juggernaut McKesson, and a little oil & gas company called Exxon. People aren’t as likely to move to Dallas for tech jobs these days, but one thing is sure: you can still count on embracing Stetsons, cowboy boots, line dancing, and great barbecue.

Chicago: When it comes to cities favored by some of the most prominent names in business, you can’t leave out the Windy City. According to recent rankings of locations with the largest corporations, Chicago held its own against both coasts and tax-free Texas. Some corporations calling Chicago home are household names: Boeing, McDonald’s, United Airlines, and Kraft Heinz. Employees come for the jobs but stay for the lake, the Cubs, and the food.

San Jose: In case you’re still wondering whether tech is the creme de la creme of job creation, San Jose will put that doubt to rest. It’s one of the smallest cities on our list, coming in at just over 1 million people, but it punches well above its weight class thanks to some big tech brands out in the Bay area. 

From Apple to Google, and Paypal to Adobe, San Jose and its immediate environs may be one of the world’s most densely populated tech hubs. Proximity to the wine country of Napa and Sonoma, killer views of the Pacific Ocean on Highway One, and tons of hiking and skiing in the spectacular Sierra Nevadas explain why San Jose continues to be a top destination for employees and employers alike.

Seattle: The birthplace of the craft coffee industry is where some of the largest tech players are headquartered, which explains why Seattle is top of mind among corporate relocation specialists. Starbucks is based there, and Amazon dominates the tech scene, despite Microsoft being headquartered in Redmond across Lake Washington. In short, Seattle has no shortage of jobs or fun, outdoorsy adventure, and great seafood. 

Minneapolis: Maybe this upper midwest city on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi didn’t come to mind when you thought about top cities for corporate relocations, but the sheer variety and number of well-known corporations will make you a believer. United Health, Target, Best Buy, 3M, General Mills, Cargill, Ameriprise Financial – heard enough yet? 

The beauty of Minneapolis and its sister city, St. Paul, is its great outdoors scene, plenty of walkable parts of town, and hopping cultural opportunities, including museums, music venues, and restaurants.

San Francisco: While some might lump San Francisco and San Jose into the Bay Area, residents of both cities know there’s a big difference between the two from a cultural and employment perspective. So let’s split hairs and show why San Francisco makes our list of the top seven corporate relocation destinations.

The companies that make San Francisco home include ride-sharing titans Uber and Lyft, biotech giant Genentech, and the global investment firm Franklin Templeton. In addition, the City by the Bay is beloved for its walkable downtown, the Bay with its views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, and the wildly diverse food scene. 

If you’re a corporate relocation professional, you’re bound to see a trend regarding where and how often employees move to the seven locations above. Fortunately, Ineo makes it a cinch to regulate all aspects of domestic and international mobility programs with our comprehensive TechSuite global mobility software. From mobility assignment management to relocation cost estimates, we’ve got you covered.

Contact our industry experts today to learn more about how partnering with with Ineo can help your mobility program achieve your goals.

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