Texas backslides one spot to the No. 2 Growth State in America, according to U-Haul® data analyzing U.S. migration trends for 2019.
Florida unseats the Lone Star State, ending its three-year run as the top growth state for 2016-18. Florida rises one spot after being No. 2 in growth the previous three years.
North Carolina, 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
Texas arrivals of one-way U-Haul trucks were down 2% while departures were also down 2% compared to the state’s 2018 numbers. Arrivals accounted for 50.4% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Texas to make it the No. 2 state for netting do-it-yourself movers.
“Texas has beautiful state parks, beaches and some of the best culinary scenes from around the world,” said Gabe Mendieta, U-Haul Company of Northwest Houston president. “People are moving to the state in flocks because the cost of living is low and your paycheck goes further. The housing market is thriving and many small businesses can take advantage of the tax breaks.
“On top of that, Texas is home to some of the top college universities, attracting young professionals from all over the world. With the growing populations, U-Haul is making it a priority to open more neighborhood dealers to accommodate the new Texans moving here.”
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).
Texas in Growth Mode
The Round Rock-Pflugerville market, New Braunfels, the Spring-The Woodlands market, McKinney and Austin lead Texas’s gains. Lubbock, Denton, Katy, Tyler and Dallas are among other notable cities to see a net increase of U-Haul trucks.
“Tech companies in the Austin area are on the rise,” added Glenn Taylor, U-Haul Company of South Austin president. “Apple® just opened a new manufacturing compound. Residential areas are growing rapidly with condos. People know they can find a job in Texas and make it their long-term home. Texas also has no state income tax, so there’s an influx of residents moving from the West Coast. Families are moving away from high tax states and choosing Texas.”
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.
