Where are Americans moving? The latest report from U-Haul gauges how many of its trucks entered and left states during the past calendar year:
U-Haul Growth States are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck sharing transactions that occur annually. While migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, U-Haul growth data is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.
Texas and Florida again top the list of high-growth states, followed by South Carolina, Utah, and Idaho. Illinois placed dead last for “the third time in four years, outpacing No. 48 California and No. 49 Michigan for net departures among out-migration states,” according to the report.
Families move for a variety of reasons, but when alarming numbers of them are leaving states behind in their rearview mirrors, policymakers should consider how taxes, regulations, and other mandates impact the cost of living and quality of life.