Based on data from U-Haul involving 2.5 million moves, South Carolina emerged as the top destination for interstate relocations in 2024, displacing Texas from its long-held position at the pinnacle. Prior to this shift, Texas had reigned supreme on U-Haul’s annual list for three consecutive years.
Following closely behind South Carolina and Texas in the rankings were North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Notably, Indiana made a significant leap from its 2023 ranking of No. 27 to secure the No. 8 spot, indicating a notable increase in inbound migration. Oklahoma also experienced a substantial rise in popularity, vaulting an impressive 30 spots from No. 41 to No. 11. Conversely, Colorado witnessed the most substantial decline, plummeting from its ninth-place ranking in 2023 to a discouraging 40th position in 2024.
On the flip side, California stood out as the state with the highest number of net departures, followed by Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This marked the fifth consecutive year that California led the nation in terms of residents leaving the state.
John “J.T.” Taylor, President of U-Haul International, shared insights on the prevailing migration trends, noting, “State-to-state transactions from the past year reaffirm customer tendencies that have been pronounced for some time.” Taylor highlighted the ongoing migration patterns towards the Southeast and Southwest regions, driven by considerations such as cost of living, job prospects, quality of life, and other pertinent factors influencing relocation decisions. He underscored that out-migration continued to be a prevalent trend in several markets across the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast, with California, in particular, witnessing significant departures.
The dominance of the South was further exemplified in the list of top cities experiencing net arrivals. Dallas secured the top spot, followed by Charlotte, Phoenix, Lakeland, and Austin. Boise, Idaho, emerged as the leading non-southern city for net arrivals, claiming the 17th position on the list.
Sean Fullerton, President of U-Haul Company of South Central Dallas, shed light on the burgeoning growth in the Dallas metro area, attributing it to both urban developments and the expansion of surrounding suburbs like McKinney, Plano, and Addison. Fullerton emphasized the area’s appealing cost of living, bolstered by robust job growth, rising wages, and tax incentives that have collectively attracted a substantial influx of new residents.
While the U.S. Census Bureau traditionally releases detailed estimates of state-to-state migration annually, data for the year 2024 is not anticipated until later in the year. However, the bureau’s 2023 data revealed significant population shifts, with Florida gaining 638,089 new residents and Texas welcoming 611,942 individuals from out-of-state. Concurrently, Florida saw 510,925 residents depart, while Texas witnessed 478,570 outbound movers. In contrast, California experienced a net loss
