In today's modern global community, where people commonly travel abroad for holidays or retirement, communicate easily with friends and family abroad, have access to news and information from around the world at the touch of a button, some 44% of home owners live no further than 10 miles from where they grew up.
However, two thirds say they would consider moving away but what prevents them is a desire to stay close to their family (51%) and friends (46%).
Only 18% cited confidence in local schools as a reason to stay, with those in the North most likely to be swayed by this. In fact, it's not uncommon for children to go to the same school that their parents attended and in some cases, taught by the same teacher.
Comfort and familiarity with surroundings was respondents' most mentioned reason for staying put with 52% keen on this with emphasis on this increasing in the South to 66%.
For the 56% who have moved away, more emphasis was placed on logical and practical considerations. The top motivator was moving to take up a job, 34%, with more women than men citing work as a reason for moving.
Some 21% moved to be with their partner although more women than men moved for love at 23%. Parents moving to access better schools accounted for just 3%, although the greatest concentration of these, 13%, were in Scotland.
While those from Wales and the Midlands were most likely to still live in their childhood homeland, those from Northern Ireland and the South were the most likely to have spread their wings to a different region.
The research also highlighted those from higher social grades were more likely to move. Some 61% of s said they would do so possibly to follow education or career opportunities, or because of affordability issues, particularly as 67% were based in the South.
Nationwide's research showed that of those four out of five were relatively or very happy with their decision, with those moving to Scotland giving their move the highest happiness rating at 47%.
Some 79% of those that moved away say they have no intention of ever moving back, while 63% of those that stayed close to home say they would consider moving away.
‘Our research suggests that it's often more emotional issues that keep us tied to our familiar surroundings and affect our decisions about moving home. It shows that for some, home really is where the heart is,’ said Tracie Pearce, Nationwide's head of mortgages.
