South Carolina Has Officially Become The Number 1 Moved To State in America

South Carolina has officially become the number 1 moved to state in America, surpassing Texas. This significant change reflects a growing trend of people relocating to the number 1 moved to state, driven by various factors such as job opportunities, more affordable housing, and a desirable lifestyle. According to data from U-Haul, South Carolina has knocked Texas out of the number one spot for the first time in history.

The trend of southern states netting larger numbers of one-way U-Haul^® continued during 2024, with South Carolina topping the U-Haul Growth Index for the first time.

Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee round out the five leading growth states.

California experienced the greatest net loss and ranks 50th for the fifth consecutive year.

Growth rankings are configured by each state’s net gain (or loss) of customers utilizing one-way U-Haul equipment in a calendar year. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from well over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box^® moving container transactions that occur annually.

“State-to-state transactions from the past year reaffirm customer tendencies that have been pronounced for some time,” stated John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul International president. “Migration to the Southeast and Southwest continues as families gauge their cost of living, job opportunities, quality of life and other factors that go into relocating to a new state. Out-migration remains prevalent for a number of markets across the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast — and particularly California.

“U-Haul continues to expand its network, rental fleet and self-storage footprint so that wherever people move in 2025, we will be there to meet their needs.”

South Carolina climbed three spots in the rankings to unseat Texas, which was the No. 1 growth state for the previous three years (2021-23). Of all the U-Haul movers coming and going from the Palmetto State in 2024, more than 51.7% were arrivals.

Texas has ranked first or second among U-Haul Growth States each year since 2016. Florida has been fourth or higher every year since 2015.

New York, at No. 47 on the list, has its lowest growth ranking in a decade.

Oklahoma (+30), Indiana (+19) and Maine (+18) are the biggest risers year-over-year on the U-Haul Growth Index. Colorado (-31), Nevada (-24), Wyoming (-22) and New Mexico (-21) saw the biggest slides in 2024.

Find past growth rankings and reports at uhaul.com/about/migration.

Gena Glaze