A new analysis of more than a decade of home mover records reveals a sharp rise in single midlife movers.

Hillary’s, which commissioned the research, says this signals a demographic shift reshaping the market.

And it claims it mirrors a ‘cultural moment’ in which many people, particularly women, are embracing midlife independence.

According to the data, the proportion of single owner occupied home movers has increased by 15.6% over the last 10 years, while the share of married home movers has fallen by 22.6%. 

Over the same period, the modal age of movers has shifted dramatically. 

In 2016 the most common age band for owner occupied movers was 30–39, while today it is 50–59.

The rise is most pronounced among single 50–59-year‑olds, who represent the fastest‑growing segment of the owner‑occupied market, increasing at a significantly higher rate than their married counterparts.

House price data also points to shifts in lifestyle and priorities. 

Within the 50–59 age group, single homemovers purchase homes averaging £289,600, compared with £427,200 for married couples. 

Hillary’s says this substantial price gap suggests extensive purposeful downsizing, with single movers seeking smaller, more manageable homes that better support the lives they are choosing for themselves.

And the firm says this all aligns with wider cultural reporting showing more women in midlife choosing independent living, often following major life transitions such as divorce, children leaving home, or career changes.

A spokesperson for TwentyCi, the research consultancy which compiled the data, says: “These forces are creating a more individualised market, with 50‑plus adults and particularly single homeowners  becoming an increasingly influential segment in how the housing landscape evolves.”