World Population Review ranks Alaska as the coldest place to live in the U.S. The Last Frontier State averages a temperature of 26.6° F. Yet during the winter months, the temperatures drop as low as -30° F. For some the natural beauty of the state compensates for its freezing climate. Others, though, would rather ditch the winter coats and snow shovels and enjoy more comforting weather. And you’ll be shocked – shocked – to learn some Alaskans are hightailing it to warmer states. (Not surprisingly, Alaska accounts for the vast majority of the coldest places in America today.)
To determine where people from Alaska are moving to the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed state-to-state migration flows from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey, revealing the number of people living in other states (or Washington D.C.) in 2019 who had lived in Alaska the previous year. State population estimates are also from the ACS and are for residents age 1 and older. All rankings are out of a universe of 49 states and the District of Columbia. (See how every state’s population has changed since 2010.)
Click here to see where people from Alaska are moving to the most
Topping the list is – no surprise – sunny California. In 2019, more than 5,000, or 10%, of Alaskans exiting the state, fled there. The move to the Golden State makes sense. Not only is the climate warmer, but it’s on the same coast as Alaska, making for a relatively shorter move.
Next up is the Sunshine State, Florida, where 4,906 Alaskans made their new home in 2019. Texas came in third, with 4,622 outbound Alaskans trekking to the Lone Star State.
Where do Alaskans seem less inclined to move? Not one, according to the Census Bureau, relocated to Maryland or Rhode Island in 2019. The Midwest wasn’t an attractive destination for Alaskans, either. Only seven moved to Kansas that year, with 14 (presumably those who didn’t mind the cold) choosing South Dakota.
50. Maryland
> People from Alaska who moved to Maryland in 2019: None reported
> Total new residents from out of state: 141,766 (0.0% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,979,602
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49. Rhode Island
> People from Alaska who moved to Rhode Island in 2019: None reported
> Total new residents from out of state: 34,984 (0.0% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,050,602
48. Kansas
> People from Alaska who moved to Kansas in 2019: 7 (0.01% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 94,648 (0.01% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,879,518
47. South Dakota
> People from Alaska who moved to South Dakota in 2019: 14 (0.03% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 26,934 (0.05% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 872,708
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46. Wyoming
> People from Alaska who moved to Wyoming in 2019: 54 (0.11% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 30,247 (0.18% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 572,884
45. Mississippi
> People from Alaska who moved to Mississippi in 2019: 80 (0.16% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 61,683 (0.13% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,943,737
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44. Arkansas
> People from Alaska who moved to Arkansas in 2019: 98 (0.20% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 59,723 (0.16% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,989,054
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43. Nebraska
> People from Alaska who moved to Nebraska in 2019: 127 (0.25% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 46,064 (0.28% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,910,711
42. Illinois
> People from Alaska who moved to Illinois in 2019: 135 (0.27% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 190,627 (0.07% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 12,536,539
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41. Indiana
> People from Alaska who moved to Indiana in 2019: 184 (0.37% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 151,443 (0.12% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,656,971
40. Oklahoma
> People from Alaska who moved to Oklahoma in 2019: 188 (0.37% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 101,844 (0.18% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,907,258
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39. West Virginia
> People from Alaska who moved to West Virginia in 2019: 192 (0.38% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 39,548 (0.49% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,773,280
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38. North Dakota
> People from Alaska who moved to North Dakota in 2019: 214 (0.43% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 36,668 (0.58% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 750,501
37. Connecticut
> People from Alaska who moved to Connecticut in 2019: 220 (0.44% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 90,044 (0.24% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,531,986
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36. Michigan
> People from Alaska who moved to Michigan in 2019: 222 (0.44% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 132,008 (0.17% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 9,880,758
35. Delaware
> People from Alaska who moved to Delaware in 2019: 294 (0.59% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 38,014 (0.77% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 964,817
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34. Maine
> People from Alaska who moved to Maine in 2019: 318 (0.63% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 36,129 (0.88% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,331,656
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33. District of Columbia
> People from Alaska who moved to District of Columbia in 2019: 338 (0.67% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 58,879 (0.57% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 697,556
32. New Hampshire
> People from Alaska who moved to New Hampshire in 2019: 392 (0.78% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 50,288 (0.78% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,350,155
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31. Vermont
> People from Alaska who moved to Vermont in 2019: 402 (0.80% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 21,212 (1.90% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 617,560
30. Iowa
> People from Alaska who moved to Iowa in 2019: 425 (0.85% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 72,651 (0.58% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,121,385
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29. New Jersey
> People from Alaska who moved to New Jersey in 2019: 457 (0.91% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 149,260 (0.31% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 8,791,672
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28. Ohio
> People from Alaska who moved to Ohio in 2019: 468 (0.93% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 205,542 (0.23% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 11,556,037
27. Utah
> People from Alaska who moved to Utah in 2019: 526 (1.05% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 95,608 (0.55% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,162,102
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26. Massachusetts
> People from Alaska who moved to Massachusetts in 2019: 553 (1.10% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 144,079 (0.38% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,828,110
25. New York
> People from Alaska who moved to New York in 2019: 596 (1.19% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 254,806 (0.23% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 19,240,920
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24. Idaho
> People from Alaska who moved to Idaho in 2019: 674 (1.34% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 78,730 (0.86% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,764,327
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23. South Carolina
> People from Alaska who moved to South Carolina in 2019: 680 (1.36% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 176,008 (0.39% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,092,727
22. Kentucky
> People from Alaska who moved to Kentucky in 2019: 855 (1.71% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 100,057 (0.85% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,421,512
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21. Colorado
> People from Alaska who moved to Colorado in 2019: 862 (1.72% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 240,600 (0.36% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,701,658
20. Hawaii
> People from Alaska who moved to Hawaii in 2019: 907 (1.81% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 49,708 (1.82% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,396,819
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19. Missouri
> People from Alaska who moved to Missouri in 2019: 927 (1.85% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 152,345 (0.61% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,069,697
18. New Mexico
> People from Alaska who moved to New Mexico in 2019: 950 (1.89% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 55,545 (1.71% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 2,073,628
17. Pennsylvania
> People from Alaska who moved to Pennsylvania in 2019: 1,008 (2.01% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 267,465 (0.38% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 12,670,245
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16. Wisconsin
> People from Alaska who moved to Wisconsin in 2019: 1,070 (2.13% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 107,973 (0.99% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,760,481
15. Alabama
> People from Alaska who moved to Alabama in 2019: 1,105 (2.20% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 104,780 (1.05% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,849,509
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14. Montana
> People from Alaska who moved to Montana in 2019: 1,124 (2.24% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 40,862 (2.75% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 1,056,994
13. Louisiana
> People from Alaska who moved to Louisiana in 2019: 1,194 (2.38% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 67,640 (1.77% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,595,111
12. Minnesota
> People from Alaska who moved to Minnesota in 2019: 1,240 (2.47% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 106,920 (1.16% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 5,575,235
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11. Virginia
> People from Alaska who moved to Virginia in 2019: 1,256 (2.51% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 264,855 (0.47% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 8,439,982
10. Georgia
> People from Alaska who moved to Georgia in 2019: 1,378 (2.75% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 284,541 (0.48% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 10,499,808
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9. Tennessee
> People from Alaska who moved to Tennessee in 2019: 1,506 (3.00% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 196,765 (0.77% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 6,754,461
8. Arizona
> People from Alaska who moved to Arizona in 2019: 1,561 (3.11% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 253,295 (0.62% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 7,200,620
7. North Carolina
> People from Alaska who moved to North Carolina in 2019: 1,568 (3.13% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 315,215 (0.50% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 10,371,906
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6. Oregon
> People from Alaska who moved to Oregon in 2019: 2,068 (4.12% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 129,921 (1.59% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 4,178,578
5. Nevada
> People from Alaska who moved to Nevada in 2019: 2,850 (5.68% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 132,950 (2.14% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 3,048,602
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4. Washington
> People from Alaska who moved to Washington in 2019: 4,255 (8.49% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 231,956 (1.83% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 7,527,366
3. Texas
> People from Alaska who moved to Texas in 2019: 4,622 (9.22% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 559,661 (0.83% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 28,642,658
2. Florida
> People from Alaska who moved to Florida in 2019: 4,906 (9.79% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 601,611 (0.82% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 21,269,409
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1. California
> People from Alaska who moved to California in 2019: 5,064 (10.10% of all outbound Alaskans)
> Total new residents from out of state: 480,204 (1.05% from Alaska)
> Population, age 1 and up: 39,084,048
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