Florida has been growing rapidly for decades, surpassing New York to become the third most populous state in the country in 2014. Last year, Florida reached another historic milestone, reporting a nation-leading net population increase of 1.9%.
These numbers do not tell the full story, however. Even as Americans are flocking to the Sunshine State at a record pace, many are also moving out. According to government data, nearly 470,000 Floridians packed up and moved to a different part of the country in 2021. Only California and New York reported higher levels of outbound migration that year.
Explanations for why so many Floridians are relocating vary, and are often personal. Family considerations, changes in marital status, and job transfers are the reasons behind millions of moves in the U.S. each year, but other circumstances specific to Florida are also likely pushing many out of the state.
Every year, parts of the state – particularly along the coast – face the threat of hurricanes and storm surges. Between 2018 and 2022 alone, Florida was hit with 19 weather-related disasters that caused over $1 billion in damage, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In fact, of the 61 tropical cyclones in the U.S. since 1980 that resulted in over $1 billion in damage, over half hit the state of Florida.
No matter the explanation, nearly half a million people left Florida for a different state in 2021, and some parts of the country have drawn in far more ex-Floridians than others.
Using data on state-to-state migration flows from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states the most people from Florida are moving to. The 50 places on this list – Washington D.C. and every state except Florida – are ranked by the share of residents in 2021 who lived in Florida in 2020. For each state and Washington D.C., we also reviewed net population change from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 with data from U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program.
Georgia and Alabama are the only two states that border Florida – and each ranks among the top 10 destinations for outbound Floridians. Both states offer a far lower cost of living than Florida, and each had a stronger job market in 2021, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Here is a look at the cities that will add the jobs by 2060 according to economists.)
Additionally, two of the top five states on this list – North Carolina and Texas – are drawing in new residents from all over the U.S., with net population increases of 116,440 and 326,390, respectively, in 2021 – ranking them among the three fastest growing states. (Here is a look at the best states to live in.)
Here is where people from Florida are moving to the most.
50. South Dakota
> People from Florida who moved to South Dakota in 2021: 659 (0.14% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +8,365 (+0.94%)
> Total 2021 population: 884,616
[in-text-ad]
49. Vermont
> People from Florida who moved to Vermont in 2021: 1,172 (0.25% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +4,079 (+0.63%)
> Total 2021 population: 641,007
24/7 Wall St.
48. North Dakota
> People from Florida who moved to North Dakota in 2021: 1,272 (0.27% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -1,584 (-0.20%)
> Total 2021 population: 764,638
47. Idaho
> People from Florida who moved to Idaho in 2021: 1,322 (0.28% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +55,112 (+2.98%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,879,719
46. Wyoming
> People from Florida who moved to Wyoming in 2021: 1,541 (0.33% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,878 (+0.33%)
> Total 2021 population: 573,476
45. Montana
> People from Florida who moved to Montana in 2021: 1,566 (0.33% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +19,152 (+1.76%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,093,888
44. Delaware
> People from Florida who moved to Delaware in 2021: 1,650 (0.35% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +12,693 (+1.28%)
> Total 2021 population: 994,669
43. Arkansas
> People from Florida who moved to Arkansas in 2021: 1,655 (0.35% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +13,927 (+0.46%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,990,311
42. Nebraska
> People from Florida who moved to Nebraska in 2021: 1,806 (0.38% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +912 (+0.05%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,939,700
41. Alaska
> People from Florida who moved to Alaska in 2021: 2,163 (0.46% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,259 (+0.17%)
> Total 2021 population: 723,949
40. Rhode Island
> People from Florida who moved to Rhode Island in 2021: 2,176 (0.46% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +640 (+0.06%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,085,539
39. Mississippi
> People from Florida who moved to Mississippi in 2021: 2,512 (0.53% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -8,555 (-0.29%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,919,574
24/7 Wall St.
38. Hawaii
> People from Florida who moved to Hawaii in 2021: 2,527 (0.54% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -3,889 (-0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,426,298
37. District of Columbia
> People from Florida who moved to the District of Columbia in 2021: 2,581 (0.55% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -2,077 (-0.31%)
> Total 2021 population: 661,026
36. Oregon
> People from Florida who moved to Oregon in 2021: 2,683 (0.57% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +11,506 (+0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,207,387
35. Minnesota
> People from Florida who moved to Minnesota in 2021: 2,712 (0.58% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,619 (+0.03%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,645,866
34. New Hampshire
> People from Florida who moved to New Hampshire in 2021: 2,758 (0.59% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +8,918 (+0.65%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,377,638
24/7 Wall St.
33. Kansas
> People from Florida who moved to Kansas in 2021: 2,926 (0.62% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +03 (+0.00%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,900,594
32. Utah
> People from Florida who moved to Utah in 2021: 3,093 (0.66% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +55,328 (+1.68%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,295,561
31. West Virginia
> People from Florida who moved to West Virginia in 2021: 3,835 (0.82% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -5,894 (-0.33%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,767,792
30. Maine
> People from Florida who moved to Maine in 2021: 4,322 (0.92% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +13,681 (+1.00%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,360,264
29. Oklahoma
> People from Florida who moved to Oklahoma in 2021: 4,484 (0.95% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +26,313 (+0.66%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,943,443
28. Iowa
> People from Florida who moved to Iowa in 2021: 4,548 (0.97% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +7,118 (+0.22%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,159,672
27. New Mexico
> People from Florida who moved to New Mexico in 2021: 4,563 (0.97% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -1,713 (-0.08%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,092,251
26. Wisconsin
> People from Florida who moved to Wisconsin in 2021: 5,123 (1.09% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -16,170 (-0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,838,954
25. Missouri
> People from Florida who moved to Missouri in 2021: 5,622 (1.20% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +15,825 (+0.26%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,102,443
24. Louisiana
> People from Florida who moved to Louisiana in 2021: 6,004 (1.28% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -24,566 (-0.53%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,571,302
23. Nevada
> People from Florida who moved to Nevada in 2021: 6,372 (1.36% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +30,754 (+0.99%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,111,722
22. Connecticut
> People from Florida who moved to Connecticut in 2021: 6,534 (1.39% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +25,993 (+0.72%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,571,470
21. Arizona
> People from Florida who moved to Arizona in 2021: 6,748 (1.44% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +84,934 (+1.18%)
> Total 2021 population: 7,202,745
20. Maryland
> People from Florida who moved to Maryland in 2021: 7,927 (1.69% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,405 (+0.02%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,099,715
19. New Jersey
> People from Florida who moved to New Jersey in 2021: 7,930 (1.69% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -3,728 (-0.04%)
> Total 2021 population: 9,174,117
24/7 Wall St.
18. Kentucky
> People from Florida who moved to Kentucky in 2021: 8,392 (1.79% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -856 (-0.02%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,460,646
17. Washington
> People from Florida who moved to Washington in 2021: 9,637 (2.05% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +16,714 (+0.22%)
> Total 2021 population: 7,657,350
16. Indiana
> People from Florida who moved to Indiana in 2021: 10,336 (2.20% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +24,733 (+0.36%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,729,771
15. Illinois
> People from Florida who moved to Illinois in 2021: 10,647 (2.27% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -100,111 (-0.78%)
> Total 2021 population: 12,544,435
14. Massachusetts
> People from Florida who moved to Massachusetts in 2021: 10,894 (2.32% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -6,039 (-0.09%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,916,314
13. Michigan
> People from Florida who moved to Michigan in 2021: 13,202 (2.81% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -32,073 (-0.32%)
> Total 2021 population: 9,950,336
12. Ohio
> People from Florida who moved to Ohio in 2021: 14,785 (3.15% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -33,175 (-0.28%)
> Total 2021 population: 11,660,200
11. South Carolina
> People from Florida who moved to South Carolina in 2021: 14,905 (3.17% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +61,418 (+1.20%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,142,137
10. Pennsylvania
> People from Florida who moved to Pennsylvania in 2021: 15,020 (3.20% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +17,619 (+0.14%)
> Total 2021 population: 12,842,522
9. Colorado
> People from Florida who moved to Colorado in 2021: 18,661 (3.97% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +26,432 (+0.46%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,757,628
8. Virginia
> People from Florida who moved to Virginia in 2021: 20,603 (4.39% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +20,894 (+0.24%)
> Total 2021 population: 8,557,020
7. Tennessee
> People from Florida who moved to Tennessee in 2021: 20,809 (4.43% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +42,732 (+0.62%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,899,165
6. Alabama
> People from Florida who moved to Alabama in 2021: 22,507 (4.79% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +18,484 (+0.37%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,989,797
5. New York
> People from Florida who moved to New York in 2021: 24,444 (5.21% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -250,804 (-1.25%)
> Total 2021 population: 19,626,300
4. California
> People from Florida who moved to California in 2021: 24,692 (5.26% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: -358,662 (-0.91%)
> Total 2021 population: 38,833,197
3. Texas
> People from Florida who moved to Texas in 2021: 31,023 (6.61% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +326,390 (+1.12%)
> Total 2021 population: 29,170,380
2. North Carolina
> People from Florida who moved to North Carolina in 2021: 37,071 (7.89% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +116,440 (+1.11%)
> Total 2021 population: 10,446,881
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Georgia
> People from Florida who moved to Georgia in 2021: 49,163 (10.47% of all outbound Floridians)
> 1-yr. net population change: +58,201 (+0.54%)
> Total 2021 population: 10,688,429
Cash Back Credit Cards Have Never Been This Good
Credit card companies are at war, handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers. A good cash back card can be worth thousands of dollars a year in free money, not to mention other perks like travel, insurance, and access to fancy lounges. See our top picks for the best credit cards today. You won’t want to miss some of these offers.
Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
