The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a profound transformation in individuals’ residential location choices and travel patterns. Traditional determinants of where to live, such as housing affordability or proximity to work/amenities, now closely intersect with the convenience of remote work and other online activities. This transition reshapes how individuals choose their living environment and organize their travel during the day. To navigate this evolving landscape, this research will delve into the residential self-selection in the post-COVID era. Central to the researchers’ investigation is understanding individuals’ shifting tendencies towards digital nomadism and the impact of this transition on housing preferences and activity-travel behavior. The researchers seek to uncover to what extent factors like the convenience of remote activities, hybrid work schedules, and tech-savviness influence residential and travel choices. Furthermore, the researchers will explore the equity considerations inherent in these decisions, examining how sociodemographics intersect with the evolving structure of residential self-selection. To achieve these objectives, the researchers will employ a targeted sampling methodology to recruit individuals who have relocated over the last 12 months, as well as those who have not moved since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Through the analysis of this dataset that consists of movers and non-movers, the researchers will have the opportunity to (1) track the factors impacting relocation decisions and those influencing residential stability, (2) explore the effects of the remote activities both on residential and travel choices, and (3) assess the differences in remote activity participation and residential location choice across various population segments. These findings will not only inform planning and policy decisions but also set a baseline for future studies focusing on the interplay between residential self-selection, digital lifestyles, and housing preferences.
