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1. The percentage of Americans planning to move increased, but those planning to relocate out of state declined. Political leaning plays a key role.
Recent CivicScience data reveal that Americans’ overall willingness to relocate out of state has declined, down to 40% from 46% a year ago, despite an overall increase in those planning to move overall. Half of self-reported conservatives considering a move say they plan to relocate to another state, and this number jumps to 58% among individuals in high-income households earning $200K or more.
The primary motivations behind relocation decisions remain practical, with cost of living and housing prices unsurprisingly leading as relocation drivers. Secondary factors include weather or lifestyle preferences and concerns about crime or safety. Liberals are five percentage points more likely than conservatives to cite political climate as a motivating factor for relocation (23% to 18%, respectively).
Take the Poll: Have you recently researched living abroad or moving to an international country?
2. Fantasy sports participation remains strong, and it’s growing in leagues other than the NFL.
New CivicScience data highlight the growing popularity and shifting landscape of fantasy sports in the U.S. Roughly 25% of Americans participated in some form over the past year. Participation skews heavily toward younger generations, with only 4% of Baby Boomers engaging.
While fantasy football remains the most popular format—played by 43% of fantasy sports participants overall—it has seen a seven-percentage-point decline since 2021. Meanwhile, interest in other sports, such as fantasy basketball, baseball, and hockey, is on the rise, indicating a diversification in the fantasy sports industry as a whole.
Weigh In: Is fantasy football mainly luck or skill?
3. “Banana Ball” is taking the sports world by storm as many Americans aware of this non-traditional style of baseball either enjoy watching it or are interested in tuning in.
The Savannah Bananas have been a rousing success in not just baseball, but the sports world as a whole, filling stadiums of all sizes throughout the country. This success is driven by the type of baseball they play, known as “Banana Ball,” the fast-paced, entertainment-focused spin on traditional baseball.
CivicScience asked Americans how they feel about this unconventional game as the Savannah Bananas, the originators of the league, released the Banana Ball schedule for 2026 last week. Nearly 50% of U.S. adults are aware of Banana Ball, and among those familiar, 30% say they enjoy watching it, and another 30% express interest in watching. The format particularly resonates with two key groups, hardcore MLB fans and parents, suggesting that Banana Ball’s unique blend of skill showcase, utilization of former MLB players, and family-friendly entertainment may be carving out a strong niche within the broader baseball market.
