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Today's installment of "Where We Go and Why We Go There" looks at beautiful Boston, Massachusetts. This New England metropolis is rich with history and happenings, while simultaneously existing as modern force in the worlds of commerce, education, and industry. However, like every city, Bean Town sees its fair share of departures and arrivals, as people move to and from Boston throughout the year.

Based on the top five destinations for people leaving Boston, one might conclude that the grey Atlantic weather has given them the blahs. Florida occupies four of the top five spots (Orlando, Tampa, Naples, and the South Florida Area), with the California Bay Area sneaking in at the #4 spot. Most people relocating from Boston seem to feel an affinity for the Atlantic Ocean... they just want to live near a warmer part of it.

However, when we look at points of origin for people moving to Boston, it helps to compare the stats. What specifically seems to be drawing people towards the Massachusetts capital?

1. Washington, D.C. Nearby Washington, D.C., has a cost of living that's almost two-fifths higher than the national average. Couple that with an unemployment rate of 10.2%, and it's no wonder the D.C. Area sends a higher percentage of its residents to Boston than any other city in the country.


2. Denver, Colorado. Long commute times and a too-hot-to-handle housing market are a few reasons why people are moving from Denver to Boston.


3. Southern California. California falls into the list twice, with the #3 spot going to the southern part of the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, etc.). The cost of living in SoCal is 6.25% higher than the national average, and unemployment is currently at 8.9%.


4. California Bay Area. Just a little bit farther up the California coast we find our #4 entry, the California Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose, etc.). The Bay Area boasts an unemployment rate similar to its southern neighbors (8.9%), but also has a cost of living that's a whopping 99% higher than the national average.


5. Pensacola, Florida. Rounding out the list at #5 is the only East Coast entry -- Pensacola. This Florida city has an unemployment rate similar to that of the D.C. Area (10.2%), but is also currently experiencing a negative job growth rate (-2.17%).

With an unemployment rate 2.2% lower than the national average, a property tax rate almost two dollars less than the national average, and an estimated rate of job growth expected to top 33% by 2022, it's no surprise that Boston is such a popular relocation option for so many. It can't just be for the baked beans.

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Last year was a big year for moving. More than 35 million people relocated in the United States in 2013. In fact, Americans move more frequently than the vast majority of the world. The only country with a more "nomadic" population than the U.S. is New Zealand.

Of those 35 million movers last year, over 17 million of them were considered long distance. The abundance of more affordable and flexible moving options made relocating across the country a much easier prospect. Services such as moving containers and full-service moving companies, both of which take the actual driving burden off the client, were popular choices.

But those options come with a price. The average cost for a professional household move came in at just over $12,000. Contributing factors to that final number included square footage of home, weight of belongings, distance of move, and client involvement (whether or not the customer packed, loaded, and unloaded their own boxes).

It's not surprising that customers were willing to pay extra in order to avoid the usual hassles of moving. Studies have shown that unpacking and packing are considered the most stressful parts of the entire moving process, which is an impressive claim, given the inherent stress of the entire process itself.

Some movers were able to save money by adjusting their timetables. The most popular relocation month in 2013 was August, with Friday being the most popular day of the week to load. Experts agree that, by avoiding these "peak" moving times whenever possible, customers can shave a little bit off the overall cost of the move. Only 18% of all the moves in 2013 took place during the winter.

The research also shows that moving is very much a young person's game. Americans ages 18-34 moved more than any other demographic in 2013. And we may be moving more: the average American moves 12 times in their entire life, up from 11 as little as a few years ago.

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A city is a living, breathing entity, growing in the good times and streamlining in the bad. And St. Louis, Missouri, is no exception. The Gateway City has seen its share of booms and declines, experiencing a nearly constant flow of citizens relocating both to and from other places. First, we list the top five most popular U.S. cities for inbound St. Louis immigrants.

1. Washington, D.C.
   More D.C. residents head for St. Louis than from any other city. Reasons for the exodus range from cost of living (our nation’s capital boasts a cost of living 21.9% higher than the national average) and frustrating commute times. In fact, over a quarter of D.C. residents drive at least an hour every morning just to get to work.


2. Dallas, Texas
   The Lone Star State scores two spots in this Top Five, with Dallas coming in at #2. Long commute times are also a factor in Dallas, as well as the uncomfortably hot summers and high obesity rate.


3. Austin, Texas
   The Texas capital comes in at #3 for citizens emigrating to St. Louis, citing high crime rates (16% higher than the Texas average) and wildly overpriced real estate (a whopping 75.1% higher than the state average).


4. Chicago, Illinois
   A high cost of living and high unemployment rates are sending some Chicago residents to nearby St. Louis. In fact, the entire state of Illinois experiences a relatively high move-out rate (806,000 on a net basis).


5. Baltimore, Maryland
   Rounding out our Top Five, we find Baltimore, with an unemployment rate of 9.3% and a staggeringly high crime index -- 90% higher than statewide crime index of Maryland.

Of course, gateways swing both ways. While a significant number of citizens are moving to St. Louis, an equally significant number are leaving the city for other parts of the nation. Here are the top five move-out destinations for former St. Louis citizens.

1. Denver, Colorado
   The capital of the Centennial State finds itself at the top of the list, with more St. Louis citizens relocating here than anywhere else in the country, citing an impressive growth rate and good job opportunites. The scenery can’t hurt, either.


2. Tampa, Florida
   Balmy temperatures and mild winters play a part in Tampa’s #2 ranking. Florida is one of the most popular destinations for retiring citizens from nearly every state in the Union.


3. San Antonio, Texas
   While hot summers can drive some out of Texas, they can also attract people. San Antonio grabs the first of two Texas spots in the top five cities for St. Louis emigrants.


4. Phoenix, Arizona
   This Southwestern City boasts the fourth largest percentage of St. Louis residents deciding to call it home. In fact, much like Florida, Arizona sees a large number of immigrants from all parts of the country.


5. Houston, Texas
   While #5 on our list, Houston ranks quite high in the nationwide list of move-out destinations, citing high employment figures and a booming job market.

Every city has its share of departing residents, but the overall economic news for St. Louis is actually quite good. The cost of living is 6.6% higher than the national average, with job opportunities available in bio-science, health care, and education. The tech industry alone boasts 84,000 available jobs. Add to that a rich history, a thriving arts scene, and a down-to-earth Midwestern sensibility, and it’s easy to see why St. Louis, Missouri, is a city on the rise.

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