U-Haul Destination City No. 7: Austin’s Allure Draws New Residents

May 16, 2019

With its jobs, lifestyle and live music, Austin saw the 7th highest inflow of moving trucks in 2018

Austin is still the No. 7 U.S. Destination City according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report, maintaining its ranking from last year’s list.

Austin saw a 3% year-over-year increase in one-way U-Haul truck arrivals in 2018 to remain one of the top 10 busiest cities for incoming traffic among do-it-yourself movers.

“Austin is a great city because it’s got a small-town mentality with all the benefits of a bustling downtown,” stated Glenn Taylor, U-Haul Company of South Austin president. “I’ve lived in Austin for 20 years. It has grown tremendously. It’s become a hub for young people because there are outdoor activities, live music everywhere and a downtown scene that feels like a small New York City.”

U-Haul has 10 Company-owned stores and 31 independent neighborhood dealers currently operating in the Austin city limits. Find U-Haul truck and trailer sharing locations in Austin at uhaul.com/locations.

Moving Season in Austin

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 7-50 below. Other Texas cities on the list include Dallas (16), Fort Worth (25) and Plano (34) based in their incoming traffic in 2018. Houston, which has topped the list nine straight years, and San Antonio have yet to be revealed.

“People from both coasts are flocking to Texas because the taxes are low and it’s more affordable to live,” Taylor added. “The downtown sector of Austin is seeing huge development to meet the demand. There are condos being built everywhere you look.”

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. 1-6 TBA May 17-24. Previous year rankings in parentheses.

7. AUSTIN, Texas (7)

8. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (8)

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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