Multiple factors can influence the rates of residential mobility flows between different
subregions of a country. Studies have often focused on demographic and economic factors,
but social conditions may be relevant as well. We examined whether the strength of social
ties (i.e., social support, loneliness, social trust, community and cultural activities, and
meeting other people) were associated with population migration rates across 299
municipalities of Finland. Data for the social characteristics were derived from the large
Regional Health and Wellbeing study (n=100,750 respondents) aggregated to the level of
municipalities using multilevel regression with post-stratification. Residential mobility rates
were derived from census data. Municipalities with higher levels of social support, higher
social trust, more cultural activities, and more frequent social contacts had higher net
migration rates, that is, more people moving in than out of the municipality.
Social support and cultural activities were more strongly associated with (higher) inmigration
than with out-migration rates. Social trust and frequency of meeting people were
more strongly associated with (lower) out-migration than with in-migration. The findings
provide empirical support for the hypothesis that regions with stronger social ties are more
attractive destinations for within-country residential mobility