U-Haul Destination City No. 9: Phoenix Receiving More Newcomers

May 14, 2019

Home to U-Haul Headquarters, Arizona’s capital saw the 9th highest inflow of moving trucks in 2018

Phoenix is the No. 9 U.S. Destination City according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report, climbing four spots from its ranking on last year’s list.

Phoenix saw a 20% year-over-year increase in one-way U-Haul truck arrivals in 2018 to become one of the top 10 busiest cities for incoming traffic among do-it-yourself movers for the first time since 2015.

“There’s a high volume of economy growth we’re seeing in the city, and the housing market is definitely blooming right now,” stated Jesse Ashdown, U-Haul Company of Northern Arizona president. “We have a good number of retirees moving to the Valley, but students are the group we’re seeing a lot of growth from as the universities continue to expand. Phoenix has a lot to offer with attractions, outdoor activities and community involvement that bring people together.”

Headquartered in Phoenix since 1967, U-Haul has 19 Company-owned stores and 42 independent neighborhood dealers currently operating in the Phoenix city limits. Find U-Haul truck and trailer sharing locations in Phoenix at uhaul.com/locations.

Moving Season in Phoenix

U-Haul is counting down its top 10 U.S. Destination Cities as a prelude to Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer moving season. About 45% of all moves each year occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The No. 1 U.S. Destination City will be announced May 24 on Twitter @uhaul.

View U.S. Destination Cities 9-50 below. Tucson (19) is the other Arizona city to make the list.

Rankings are based by the total number of arriving one-way U-Haul trucks into a city in the past calendar year. Destination Cities reflect the volume and regularity of do-it-yourself movers coming into a city, but do not account for departing one-way U-Haul trucks, and thus do not necessarily reflect growth like U-Haul Growth Cities and Growth States rankings do.

U-Haul released its complete Growth States rankings; its top 25 U.S. Growth Cities; and its top 25 Canadian Growth Cities for 2018 in January.

U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 21,000 U-Haul locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually.

2018 U-Haul Destination Cities

* Nos. 1-8 TBA May 15-24. Previous year rankings in parentheses.

9. PHOENIX, Ariz. (13)

10. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (9)

11. TAMPA, Fla. (11)

12. COLUMBUS, Ohio (10)

13. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (14)

14. SAN DIEGO, Calif. (12)

15. LOS ANGELES, Calif. (18)

16. DALLAS, Texas (16)

17. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (17)

18. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (15)

19. TUCSON, Ariz. (19)

20. ATLANTA, Ga. (20)

21. MIAMI, Fla. (21)

22. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (27)

23. BRONX, N.Y. (23)

24. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (22)

25. FORT WORTH, Texas (25)

26. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (28)

27. RICHMOND, Va. (41)

28. ST. LOUIS, Mo. (NR)

29. PORTLAND, Ore. (26)

30. WASHINGTON, D.C. (24)

31. RALEIGH, N.C. (32)

32. DENVER, Colo. (33)

33. CINCINNATI, Ohio (29)

34. PLANO, Texas (31)

35. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NR)

36. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (34)

37. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (NR)

38. OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (36)

39. PITTSBURGH, Pa. (37)

40. COLUMBIA, S.C. (35)

41. BALTIMORE, Md. (30)

42. SAN JOSE, Calif. (42)

43. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (38)

44. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (NR)

45. TULSA, Okla. (50)

46. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (43)

47. RENO, Nev. (39)

48. SEATTLE, Wash. (40)

49. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (49)

50. FRESNO, Calif. (48)

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