Where Americans Are Moving in 2026
A MoveAlign migration report · compiled from United Van Lines, U-Haul, and US Census data
As of June 2026, the most recent moving-company studies are the United Van Lines 49th Annual National Movers Study (covering 2025, released Dec 2025) and the U-Haul Growth Index for 2025 (released Jan 2026); both align with U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 domestic-migration estimates. The clear story: Americans are moving less than ever (a record-low mover rate of ~11%), but those who do move are heading to the Southeast and Mountain West and leaving the Northeast, Illinois, and California. United Van Lines ranked Oregon #1 inbound and New Jersey #1 outbound (8th straight year) for 2025; U-Haul ranked Texas the #1 growth state for 2025 with California dead last (50th) for the 6th straight year. Census Vintage 2024 confirms California led all states in net domestic out-migration (-239,575), followed by New York (-120,917) and Illinois (-56,235), while Texas (+85,267), North Carolina (+82,288), and South Carolina (+68,043) gained the most. Californians leaving the state overwhelmingly choose Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Florida. Two structural forces shape the picture: a 50-year-low mobility rate and the mortgage rate lock-in effect, which FHFA estimates cut U.S. home sales by ~1.7 million between 2022 and 2024. Note: Different agencies report different CA figures — Census Vintage 2024 puts net domestic out-migration at -239,575 while the CA Department of Finance reports -197,016 for 2024 due to methodology differences. Where two study years exist, the 2025 study is the latest but 2024 figures are included for the most recent year with full percentage detail.
Top inbound states
- #1 Oregon
United Van Lines 2025: #1 inbound at 65% of moves; debuted at #1, up from #8 in 2024. Top inbound metro Eugene-Springfield, OR at 85%.
- #2 West Virginia
United Van Lines 2025: 62% inbound. Had been the #1 inbound state in the 2024 (48th) study at 66%.
- #3 South Carolina
United Van Lines 2025: 61% inbound. Also U-Haul's #1 growth state for 2024 (first time ever); 51.7% of SC U-Haul traffic was arrivals. Census: +68,043 net domestic migrants (3rd nationally).
- #4 North Carolina
United Van Lines 2025 top-10 inbound; U-Haul #3 growth state for 2025. Census: +82,288 net domestic migrants, 2nd-highest gain nationally in Vintage 2024.
- #5 Texas
U-Haul's #1 growth state for 2025 (regained top spot); 50.7% inbound vs 49.3% outbound, arrivals up 3% YoY. Census: +85,267 net domestic migrants, the largest gain of any state in Vintage 2024.
- #6 Florida
U-Haul #2 growth state for 2025; 50.6% inbound vs 49.4% outbound, arrivals up 2% YoY. United Van Lines now classifies FL/TX as 'balanced migration' rather than top inbound.
- #7 Delaware
United Van Lines: top-10 inbound in both 2024 and 2025. In 2024 it was #2 inbound at 64%, with 36% of movers seeking proximity to family and over 50% aged 65+.
- #8 Tennessee
U-Haul #4 growth state for 2025; was top-5 U-Haul growth state in 2024.
Top outbound states
- #1 New Jersey
United Van Lines 2025: #1 outbound at 62%, the 8th consecutive year as the most-outbound state. (67% outbound in the 2024 study.)
- #2 California
United Van Lines 2025: #2-3 outbound at 58%. U-Haul ranked CA 50th (last) for the 6th straight year. Census Vintage 2024: largest net domestic out-migration of any state at -239,575.
- #3 New York
United Van Lines 2025: 58% outbound. U-Haul ranked NY 47th for 2025. Census Vintage 2024: 2nd-largest net domestic out-migration at -120,917.
- #4 Illinois
U-Haul ranked IL 49th for 2025 (near bottom). Census Vintage 2024: 3rd-largest net domestic out-migration at -56,235.
- #5 Massachusetts
United Van Lines 2025 top-outbound list; U-Haul ranked MA 46th for 2025. Consistently a top outbound state over the past five years.
- #6 Colorado
United Van Lines 2025 top-outbound (#5). On U-Haul's 2024 index, CO had the single biggest drop (-31 spots).
- #7 North Dakota
United Van Lines 2025: #4 outbound state.
Where Californians are moving
California leads the nation in net domestic out-migration. The top destinations for people leaving California:
#1 destination for Californians. SmartAsset/IRS data: 54,136 households (106,882 individuals) moved CA to TX. Draws cited: no state income tax, affordable housing, job hubs in Austin, Dallas, Houston. Also Census-derived reporting: ~77,161 living in TX in 2024 who lived in CA a year prior.
#2 destination. SmartAsset/IRS: 32,864 households (57,857 individuals) CA to AZ. CA sent the most migrants of any state to AZ (~52,383 in 2024); AZ had +55,505 net domestic migration, 4th nationally.
#3 destination. SmartAsset/IRS: 30,571 households (52,332 individuals) CA to NV. NV received ~53,289 Californians; strong net migration gains. Las Vegas is a top destination metro.
#4 destination. SmartAsset/IRS: 27,550 households (44,160 individuals) CA to WA. Seattle a top destination metro; also a leading moveBuddha 2024 outbound-interest state.
#5 destination. SmartAsset/IRS: 24,011 households (42,412 individuals) CA to FL. Miami among top destination metros.
Top-7 destination. SmartAsset/IRS: 19,288 households (30,421 individuals) CA to OR. Portland a top destination metro; OR was United Van Lines' #1 inbound state for 2025.
Named as the major job-hub destinations within Texas for California out-migrants per moveBuddha California Migration Report.
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Methodology & sources
This report aggregates the latest publicly available moving-industry and government data, including the United Van Lines National Movers Study, the U-Haul Growth Index, and US Census Bureau population estimates. Figures reflect the most recent full-year data available as of 2026; methodologies differ between sources, which can produce different totals for the same state.
- United Van Lines 49th Annual National Movers Study (2025) - PR Newswire
- United Van Lines 48th Annual National Movers Study (2024) - PR Newswire
- 2025 National Movers Study - United Van Lines
- 2024 National Movers Study - United Van Lines
- U-Haul Growth Index: Texas Back on Top as No. 1 Growth State of 2025
- U-Haul Growth States of 2024: South Carolina Tops List for First Time
- U-Haul Growth Index (overview)
- Net International Migration Drives Highest U.S. Population Growth in Decades (Vintage 2024) - U.S. Census Bureau
- Fewer people are moving — and it may be reshaping America - Axios
- Mobility Rates Reach Record Low: In 2024, Americans Moved Less Than Ever - Point2Homes
- US Migration/Geographic Mobility At A Glance: ACS 1-Year Estimates - U.S. Census Bureau
- Californians Are Leaving for These States – 2024 Study (IRS data) - SmartAsset
- Golden State Exodus: moveBuddha California Migration Report
- California Losing Residents Via Domestic Migration - California LAO EconTax Blog
- FHFA Working Paper 24-03: The Lock-In Effect of Rising Mortgage Rates
- Low mortgage rates make owners feel locked in - Marketplace