According to the latest U-Haul report, Texas maintained its position as the top destination for movers utilizing one-way U-Haul equipment in 2023, marking the third consecutive year it has secured the leading spot on the U-Haul Growth Index.
In close pursuit, Florida ranks second among growth states for the third consecutive year, with North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee following suit in the top five.
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Texas dominates:
Texas continues to solidify its status as the top growth state, claiming the No. 1 spot for the sixth time in eight years (2016-18 and 2021-23). Throughout this period, Texas has consistently ranked no lower than second on the U-Haul Growth Index. DIY movers arriving in Texas accounted for 50.4% of all one-way U-Haul traffic, maintaining its position as the leading growth state.
Four cities from the Lone Star State were among U-Haul’s top 25 growth cities in 2023. Austin secured the fifth position among the top growth cities, while the College Station-Bryan market followed closely in the sixth spot. Dallas claimed the ninth position, and Conroe ranked as the nineteenth growth city.
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Florida’s appeal:
Florida remains an attractive destination for new residents, almost matching Texas in terms of one-way U-Haul customers in 2023. The Sunshine State has been a top-four growth state for nine consecutive years, previously topping the U-Haul Growth Index in 2019.
Seven cities from the state were among the top 25 growth cities in 2023. The Palm Bay-Melbourne market emerged as the leader, securing the largest number of movers using one-way U-Haul equipment last year. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Florida has had the most cities represented in the U-Haul Growth Index.
“Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate,” U-Haul Company of Eastern Florida president Cal Conner said in a release. “The Space Coast has many companies investing in this region and creating jobs such as Embraer, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies. We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live.”
Top 10 growth states:
The top 10 growth states in 2023, based on U-Haul data, include Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, and Virginia. These states experienced a notable influx of movers, contributing to their positions on the U-Haul Growth Index.
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California’s continuing net loss:
For the fourth consecutive year, California has reflected the largest net loss of one-way movers, maintaining its position as a bottom-ranking state for growth. Other states in the bottom five include Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts, with New York ranking 43rd.
Year-over-year changes:
The U-Haul growth rankings witnessed significant changes year-over-year. Arkansas experienced the most substantial climb, ascending 26 spots, followed by Wyoming (+19), Vermont (+18), Washington (+16), Delaware (+12), and South Dakota (+12). Conversely, Oregon (-15 spots), Connecticut (-14), Pennsylvania (-14), Ohio (-14), Missouri (-13), and Indiana (-13) were among the states that saw the most significant declines in their rankings.
U-Haul Growth Index methodology:
U-Haul calculates growth states by analyzing each state’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions throughout the calendar year. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer, and U-Box moving container transactions occurring annually across the United States and Canada.
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