Chicago continues to safeguard its standing as the No. 2 U-Haul U.S. Destination City, according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report.
Chicago saw a 5.8 percent drop in 2016 arrivals compared to 2015, although it managed to stave off San Antonio as the second busiest U.S. market for incoming U-Haul trucks.
U-Haul Destination Cities are ranked according to the total number of arriving one-way U-Haul truck rentals to a city in the past calendar year. Destination Cities do not account for departing traffic and thus do not necessarily reflect growth like U-Haul Growth Cities. Destination Cities reflect the volume and regularity of do-it-yourself movers coming into a community.
Windy City a DIY Town
“Chicago is growing,” said Jamie Lee, U-Haul Company of North Shore Chicago president. “The city saw there was a need for more housing and upgraded facilities. Now apartments and condos are being built by reusing and refurbishing old buildings. We make it easy for do-it-yourself movers to come to a new place. We have lots of convenient locations, and U-Haul Team Members take the extra step to make everyone’s move as smooth as possible.”
U-Haul has 17 Company-owned stores and 96 independent neighborhood dealers within the city limits, and also offers many more locations to fulfill the needs of suburbs outside Chicago. Find U-Haul truck and trailer sharing locations in Chicago at uhaul.com/locations.
“Chicago offers a wide variety of public activities throughout the year,” Lee added. “Festivals and shows are held indoors and outdoors, often with no charge.”
The annual Chicago Air & Water Show is the largest free-admission air and water exhibition in the U.S. The show will celebrate its 57th anniversary in August while welcoming an estimated 2 million spectators.
U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states in addition to 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 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually.
Follow the Top 10 U.S. Destination Cities daily countdown through May 26 on Twitter @uhaul. Also view all migration trends reports, including the U-Haul 2016 U.S. Growth Cities and Growth States, at myuhaulstory.com.
What They are Saying about Chicago
“It is a city where people work hard and enjoy life. Chicago is a city with global people, miles and miles of beaches, and amazing, plentiful and inexpensive food. Chicago is a walkable city with the finest fine dining. It has charming neighborhoods with parks and giant green spaces.” — Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
U-Haul Top 10 U.S. Destination Cities for 2016
10. Charlotte
9. Kansas City
8. Philadelphia
7. Brooklyn
6. Las Vegas
5. Austin
4. Orlando
3. San Antonio
2. Chicago
