Internal migration, demographic heterogeneity, and spatial patterns in the United States

Internal migration plays a central role in shaping population redistribution in the United States, yet migration patterns vary substantially across demographic groups. This study examines how demographic heterogeneity, defined by nativity and race/ethnicity, is associated with both the spatial distribution of migrants and individual migration behavior. Using American Community Survey data from 2005 to 2024, Local Indicators of Spatial Association are used to identify geographic clustering of internal migrants across Migration Public Use Microdata Areas. Then, logistic regression models are estimated to assess the likelihood of migration between areas. The results show that migration is not evenly distributed across space and that distinct clusters persist over time for different demographic groups. Differences in migration propensities across groups are observed alongside spatial patterns of concentration and dispersion. By examining these two dimensions within the same study, the analysis shows how demographic heterogeneity is visible in both aggregate spatial distributions and individual-level migration associations.