U-Haul’s 2024 Growth Index shows that South Carolina has surpassed Texas and Florida as the most popular place to move in the country. Based on more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul trips, the data shows that more and more Americans are moving to Southeastern states in search of cheaper housing, better job chances, and a better quality of life.
Texas and Florida are still popular, coming in at second and fourth place, but South Carolina’s rise shows that people are moving to different places. At the same time, California continues to have the most people moving away, placing last on the index for the fifth year in a row.
How U-Haul tracks changes in travel patterns
In terms of numbers:
For growth trends, U-Haul looks at the net wins and losses from more than 2.5 million one-way rentals of trucks and trailers across the U.S. The U-Haul Growth Index is a unique way to track movement trends, even though it is not directly linked to population growth.
In the year 2024:
South Carolina, Oklahoma (+30 spots), Indiana (+19 spots), and Maine (+18 spots) are the states that have gained the most.
Colorado (-31 spots), Nevada (-24 spots), Wyoming (-22 spots), and New Mexico (-21 spots) all saw the biggest drops.
What are things like between Texas and Florida now?
The other side:
Texas is still a strong contender; it came in second place and has been in the top two states every year since 2016. Even though Florida dropped to fourth, a lot of people still move there because it’s warm and there is no state income tax.
What does this mean for California?
View of the big picture:
The fact that California stays at the bottom of the list shows that people are still leaving the state. People often say that they are leaving the state because of the high cost of living, the taxes, and their worries about the quality of life. This trend is part of a larger movement of people away from the Northeast and West Coast.
What’s next for the way people move?
Following:
U-Haul thinks that migration trends will stay the same in 2025, with people continuing to move to states in the Southeast. This is likely to stay the case because people are still focused on making things more affordable and making their lives better.
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