NORTH CAROLINA is U-Haul No. 3 Growth State for 2019

Jan 6, 2020

North Carolina rebounds 21 spots to become the No. 3 Growth State in America, according to U-Haul® data analyzing U.S. migration trends for 2019.

North Carolina has been among the leading growth states for several years, ranking No. 1 in 2015 and No. 7 in 2017 before backsliding to No. 24 a year ago.

Florida leapfrogs Texas as the top growth state for 2019, ending the Lone Star State’s three-year run atop the rankings for 2016-18. Florida rises one spot after being No. 2 for growth the previous three years.

South Carolina and Washington round out the top five U-Haul Growth States for 2019. Illinois and California lead the way in out-migration with the largest net losses of moving trucks crossing their borders.

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.

Migration Trends Data

North Carolina arrivals of one-way U-Haul trucks were up nearly 1% while departures were down more than 2% compared to the state’s 2018 numbers. Arrivals accounted for 50.3% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in North Carolina to make it the No. 3 state for netting do-it-yourself movers.

“North Carolina is seeing growth in businesses coming in, which attracts new residents,” stated Jason Grider, U-Haul Company of Central North Carolina president. “The housing market is booming. People are moving to the inner cities, as well as to the rural outskirts. With plenty of jobs to choose from, residents from every background are making North Carolina their home.

“We also have some of the best colleges, so graduates from all over end up moving here for good. U-Haul business is expanding here and you can really feel the growth when you look around.”

The Southeast accounts for four of the top six growth states with Alabama’s climb up the rankings, while Utah and Vermont maintained their status among the top 10. Illinois sits 50th for the fourth time in five years, outpacing No. 47 Massachusetts, No. 48 Michigan and No. 49 California for the most net departures.

Visit myuhaulstory.com to view the complete state rankings, as well as the top U-Haul U.S. Growth Cities (to be released Jan. 7) and Canadian Growth Cities (Jan. 8).

North Carolina in Growth Mode

The Raleigh-Durham corridor, Wilmington, Clayton, Boone and Hendersonville lead North Carolina’s gains. Chapel Hill, Apex, Mooresville, Cary and Winston-Salem are among other notable cities to see a net increase of U-Haul trucks.

Although U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the Company’s growth data is an effective gauge of how well cities and states are attracting and maintaining residents.

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 22,000 U-Haul truck- and trailer-sharing locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Over half a million people face food insecurity in Maricopa County. Local nonprofits work daily to address this ongoing concern, but could not service those in need with the commitment of community and business members who choose to step up and help. U-Haul...

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul® volunteers recently helped St. Mary’s Food Bank put a fresh spin on its mission to provide food for people in need across Arizona. Thanks to St. Mary’s partnership with meal-kit company HelloFresh®, people facing food insecurity can now receive both an...

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to residents impacted by the wildfires across the Texas panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday and has burned more than 1 million acres. It’s the largest in the state’s...

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

The Climb to Conquer Cancer of Phoenix is the American Cancer Society’s largest single-day climb event in the world. Every February in Arizona, thousands of cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and supporters participate in the Climb to Conquer Cancer. U-Haul...

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

February 14 is not just Valentine's Day. It is recognized as a National Salute to Veteran Patients day. During Valentine's Day week each year, U-Haul and the Tribute Journey say “thank you” to veterans of the U.S. Armed Services who are cared for in Department of...

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

Every new year invites new adventures. If your 2024 adventures include moving abroad, U-Haul International Moves® is equipped and licensed to support your exciting transition each step of the way. The U-Haul® brand is known globally for empowering do-it-yourself...

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

When Luz decided to apply for Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona’s Homeownership Program, she had no idea just how much of an impact it would have on her son, Jason. The family met Habitat’s criteria and completed more than 400 hours of “sweat equity” by working...

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

TEMPE, Ariz. — Michelle Vukov-Mikel and Michele Ramirez have been honored as the U-Haul® Volunteers of the Year for 2023. At the end of each year, U-Haul recognizes the Team Member(s) who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity...