A recent study conducted by StorageCafe delved into the nation’s leading states in attracting new residents through domestic migration. The top 10 is prominently marked by several southern states, with Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Arizona, and Georgia securing the highest ranks, boasting substantial net volumes of incoming migration.
This prompts a closer examination of the origins of these new residents and the factors driving the popularity of specific state-to-state movement across the United States.
Below, you can explore the country’s 10 busiest state-to-state moving routes, based on the latest available data from the U.S. Census, as well as some of the potential factors that are influencing people to pack their belongings and move long-distance.
1. California to Texas — 100K movers
About 100K Californians decided to relocate to Texas in 2022 alone, with the route being the busiest at a national level for a few years now. And it’s no wonder that Californians choose Texas. The Lone Star State not only boasts homes that are, on average, 62% less expensive, but it is also a no-income-tax state. The average age of those leaving California for Texas is 32, and about 29% of these transplants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. An impressive 56% of them become homeowners during their first year in Texas, confirming the supposition that affordable housing is what drives them in the first place.
2. New York to Florida — 90K movers
The second-busiest moving route nationally is New York to Florida, with 90K former New Yorkers leaving their home state behind for the sunny shores of Florida in a single year. The average age of those taking the route is around 40, significantly older compared to the CA to TX migration, meaning that retirees make up a good portion of movers. About half are buying a home within their first year in Florida — and enjoy home prices 13% lower than those in their state of origin. Relocating to Florida is also made easier by the state’s strong self-storage sector — the average price for renting a self storage unit in Florida hovers around $121 per month.
3. New York to New Jersey — 75K movers
A little over 75K people relocated from New York to New Jersey in 2022, making it the country’s third-most-popular moving route. The profile of those trading New York for New Jersey is very different compared to New Yorkers picking Florida as their new home. They are significantly younger, with an average age of 33, and 43% belong to the millennial generation. A whopping 49% of them also have a bachelor’s degree, and their personal income averages north of $80K, which paints the picture of young professionals moving to NJ to offset the high living costs in New York City.
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4. California to Arizona — 75K movers
Just under 75K Californians moved to Arizona in 2022, another state with a booming economy and decent housing costs (at least by California standards). Those who took this moving route have an average age of 36, and about 47% of them became homeowners during their first year in
Arizona. With homes in Arizona being 44% less expensive than in their state of origin, we can definitely say they made a good deal.
5. California to Washington state — 52K movers
Washington state is third in preference order for Californians on the move. About 52K of them headed for the Evergreen state in 2022. Their average age hovers around 34, and 40% of the movers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which suggests that their main motivation for the move might be to further their careers. Fortunately, they also benefit from a 21% less expensive real estate market.
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6. New York to Connecticut — 51K movers
The country’s sixth-busiest moving route leads from New York to Connecticut, a state that’s teeming with job openings due to its sizeable population of retirees. The people relocating from NY to CT have an average age of 33, and 38% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Almost two-thirds of them became homeowners during their first year in Connecticut, banking on a real estate market that’s 13% less expensive compared to their state of origin.
7. Florida to Georgia — 50K movers
Although Florida is well equipped at attracting and retaining newcomers, with a population gain of 238K residents from migration alone in 2022, there are still people who are leaving the Sunshine State. And apparently, a good portion of them are heading toward Georgia, a state that offers economic opportunities, the same warm and sunny weather they’re used to, and homes that are 16% less expensive.
8. California to Florida — 49K movers
The California-to-Florida route was populated by 49K people on the move in 2022, making it the eighth busiest nationally. Their average age hovers around 38, and a significant 17% of all the movers are working from home. Seeing as homes are 51% less expensive in Florida, they’re probably working from a bigger home than back in California. Also, 56% of them became homeowners during their first year here.
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9. New Jersey to Florida — 46.9K movers
This route is the only one among the 10 busiest nationwide where baby boomers are the prevalent generation on the move. About 26% of the approximately 47K movers are, thus, close to retirement or retired already. And they seem to be pretty definitive about moving to Florida, as 45% of them purchased a home during their first year in the state.
10. California to Nevada — 46.6K movers
California to Nevada rounds out the top 10 of the country’s most popular moving routes. Those who made the CA to NV tradeoff have an average age of 43, once again signaling that a sizeable portion of them are on the brink of retirement. About 47% bought a home as soon as they moved to Nevada, motivated by a housing market almost 40% less expensive than in their state of origin.
These routes paint a vivid picture of shifting preferences, economic opportunities, and the ever-changing fabric of American life. Examining these trends provides a snapshot of the ongoing changes that mold the demographic landscape of our nation.
