A study was conducted to determine the effect of the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on residential mobility and population composition. The entire population living within five miles of TMI was registered shortly after the accident and traced one year later to identify movers. An estimated 15% of movers (about 2% of total residents) gave TMI as the main reason for their moves. However, the rate at which people moved remained the same the year after the accident as before. Those moving because of TMI had attributes highly associated with mobility. When those attributes were controlled in analysis, attitudes about TMI were virtually the same among movers and nonmovers. Demographic characteristics of new people moving into the area were not different from those who had moved out. However, attitudes about TMI were significantly more positive among the new people.
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