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Can Moving Really Make You Happier

Yes where you live matters as long as you know what to look for in your next hometown

Couple sits on sofa with faces covered up with brown moving boxes with smiley faces drawn on them. Getty Images Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. But that doesn’t mean that Dorothy was right, and there really is no place like home, Goetz says. “While this suggests that on balance, people who move are less happy, it doesn’t take into account people who have moved to improve their situation, versus—for example—people forced to move because of a company relocation.” His data yields plenty of surprising findings for people shopping for a new hometown, a group that gets bigger as people move through midlife, beginning to rise with the empty nest years and peaking as they enter retirement. Here are three key things to keep in mind as you make your house moving decision: Short commutes are crucial. The amount of time people spend driving or commuting to work seems to have a direct influence on the number of unhappy days they have, Goetz says. And the fun-sucking effect is universal, whether people live in cities, suburbs or the country. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Finally, remember that time is on your side. Goetz says his findings meshed with other psychological research, showing that happiness typically follows a U-shaped curve, with people getting more upbeat as they move through midlife. “When people are in mid-career, worrying about their kids going to college,” he says, “they’re not that happy. But that changes as they move through their 50s and beyond.” Try our Find Your True Home program which is designed to give you better understanding of how location plays a role in what you truly value, and make you feel more confident about whether to make the move. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS