Study Shows Which States People Are Moving To (and Leaving)

The migration pattern for Americans continues to be toward the West and the South, according to the results of the latest United Van Lines annual national movers study.

The pace of those moving to Mountain and Pacific states was higher than people leaving those states, and the rate of inbound migration in the Mountain and Pacific states was higher than most of the rest of the nation, according to the study. Six of the top 10 states — Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and South Dakota — were Mountain or Pacific states. Southern states North and South Carolina also were in the top 10 for inbound migration.

Based on population statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, which takes into account births, deaths, domestic and international migration, all six states posted population increases of more than 1% in 2018, compared with a population gain of 0.62% for the U.S.

The annual study tracks migration patterns of United Van Lines customers within the United States.

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“The data collected by United Van Lines aligns with longer-term migration patterns to southern and western states, trends driven by factors like job growth, lower costs of living, state budgetary challenges, and more temperate climates,” said Michael Stoll, economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, in a statement published by United Van Lines.

The state with the highest inbound migration rate was Vermont, where 72.6% of the 234 total moves with United Van Lines were inbound. Vermont is somewhat of an exception, however, as the state posted a population increase of just 0.28% in 2018, below the U.S. average of 0.62%, according to U.S. Census data.   

In terms of outbound migration, New Jersey topped the United Van Lines list, with 66.8% of the 4,430 moves in an out of the state last year. New Jersey has been ranked in the top 10 for outbound migration for the past 10 years. Even so, New Jersey’s population is growing, posting a relatively small increase of 0.22% to 8.9 million in 2018, according to Census statistics.

Of the top 10 outbound states, seven are located in the Northeast and the so-called Rust Belt — New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Among the most frequently cited reasons for people leaving these states are retirement and being closer to their family. All seven states have posted population changes below the U.S. average of 0.62%, and three — New York, Connecticut, and Illinois — recorded population losses in 2018, according to Census data.

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