Minnesota is the No. 3 U.S. Growth State for 2016, according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report.
Minnesota rose nine spots from its No. 12 growth ranking for 2015. Its year-over-year arrivals of one-way U-Haul truck rentals went up 1 percent last year. Departures held steady.
Arrivals made up 50.9 percent of U-Haul traffic in the state in 2016. St. Paul, Mankato, Alexandria and Apple Valley paced the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks. St. Paul ranks ninth among U.S. Growth Cities for populations of more than 50,000.
Follow the Top 10 Growth States daily countdown through Feb. 3 on Twitter @uhaul. View other migration trends reports, including the U.S. Growth Cities release, at myuhaulstory.com.
Growth States are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul truck rentals entering a state versus leaving a state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental 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 cities are attracting and maintaining residents.
Minnesota, which boasts the sprawling Mall of America, is the U-Haul No. 3 Growth State of 2016. Courtesy of Explore Minnesota and Mall of America
“Minnesota is growing very well as a whole,” says Christopher Bohlman, U-Haul Company of Southern Minnesota president. “We have a strong, healthy economy. The unemployment rate is very low and houses are being built in the suburbs.”
U-Haul grew the state’s truck and trailer inventory in 2016 with the opening of 46 new dealers and posted a net gain of 12 dealers. Find U-Haul rental locations in the Land of 10,000 Lakes at uhaul.com/locations.
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.
What They are Saying about Minnesota
“We have low unemployment rates and tons of jobs that are drawing people in. The state has opened a lot of mines that are producing jobs. We have some of the best parks in the country. Our nice bike paths and great outdoor living are huge draws for our state.” — William Piette, U-Haul Company of Northern Minnesota president
“The state is having a hard time hiring people because there is such a worker shortage. The northern and southern parts of the state have the Mayo Clinics, which are hiring at a very fast rate. … U-Haul Team Members are the first people our customers interact with then they come to our state. We move the state. I tell our city planners that they need us because we move their people, and people need the city’s services.” — Christopher Bohlman, U-Haul Company of Southern Minnesota president
U-Haul Top 10 Growth States of 2016
10. Arkansas
9. Vermont
8. Louisiana
7. Idaho
6. Maine
5. Missouri
4. Wisconsin
3. Minnesota
Be sure to follow the growth state countdown in the following days here on myuhaulstory.com!
