For the third year in a row, Texas has won as the most moved to state by one-way U-Haul customers. The mass exodus of California continues as well, with more people moving away from California than any other state. U-Haul tracks data to show where one-way rentals go from and end up. Texas, Florida and North Carolina lead the country for new residents. Are you looking to U-Haul to Texas, Florida or the Carolinas?
U-Haul tracks cities and states in the U.S. to see where positive growth is happening, and where U.S. citizens are choosing to leave. The South is leading the nation, with the Carolinas picking up tens-of-thousands of new residents. North Carolina states that it gained 140,000 new residents in 2023. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box moving container transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada:
- Texas
- Florida
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Idaho
- Washington
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Virginia
- Nevada
- Vermont
- Utah
- Wyoming
- Delaware
- New Mexico
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Alabama
- Ohio
- Iowa
- Hawaii
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Kentucky
- West Virginia
- Maine
- North Dakotra
- Kansas
- Alaska
- Nebraska
- Rhode Island
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- Oklahoma
- Connecticut
- New York
- Maryland
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- California
How does Hawaii or Alaska not lose?
My first question was, how do the far-off states of Alaska and Hawaii not always lose? U-Haul isn’t tracking only trucks rented. Moving to locations like Alaska and Hawaii certainly requiring moving assistance, which is where U-Haul can step in. In fact, U-Haul has their own article about moving to Hawaii and what to expect.
U.S. citizens are primarily choosing to move to the South
“While one-way transactions in 2023 remained below the record-breaking levels we witnessed immediately following the pandemic, we continued to see many of the same geographical trends from U-Haul customers moving between states,” said John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul International president. He continued, “”Migration to states in the Southeast and Southwest is still very pronounced. Demand for one-way equipment out of certain markets in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast mirrors what we have seen during recent moving cycles. Wherever DIY customers go, and whatever mobility and self-storage needs they have in 2024, U-Haul will be there with solutions.”
The biggest state resident increases in the U-Haul growth rankings are Arkansas (+26 spots), Wyoming (+19), Vermont(+18), Washington (+16), Delaware (+12) and South Dakota (+12). The largest drops since last year are Oregon (-15 spots), Connecticut(-14), Pennsylvania (-14), Ohio (-14), Missouri (-13) and Indiana (-13).
If you are looking to test out a new state, how about visiting in a totally unique place to stay? Florida has new Lulu Dome Glamping sites. These space age looking homes take the camping aspects out of glamping. Or, checkout North Carolina. A Harry Potter inspired home rental awaits your next visit.
