Colorado is the No. 6 growth state in America, according to U-Haul® data analyzing migration patterns from 2020.
Tennessee edges Texas, the leading growth state from 2016-18, and Florida, the No. 1 growth state for 2019, for top honors on the new U-Haul chart. Ohio and Arizona round out the top five states for growth.
Colorado is the biggest mover – up or down – of any state on the list, catapulting 36 spots from its No. 42 growth ranking of 2019.
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.
Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia complete the top 10 growth states, amplifying a 2020 stronghold for the Southeast and Southwest regions in attracting do-it-yourself movers.
California slides one position to 50th as the state with the steepest out-migration – or the largest net loss of U-Haul trucks crossing its border. New York ranks 42nd. Illinois is 49th.
Colorado Growth Data
People coming to Colorado in one-way U-Haul trucks increased more than 3% during the past year, while departures dropped by more than 1% from 2019. Arrivals accounted for 50.7% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Colorado during 2020 to make it the No. 6 state for netting DIY movers.
Colorado’s leading growth cities are Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Boulder, Steamboat Springs and Loveland. Other notable net-gain cities include Parker, Durango, Castle Rock, Greeley, Denver, Aurora and Highlands Ranch.
While 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 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. Find local U-Haul stores and neighborhood dealers at uhaul.com/locations.
As an essential service provider, U-Haul has remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak while offering contactless programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people’s homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and countless other dependent groups, in addition to the household mover. Visit uhaul.com/announcement for more information on how U-Haul keeps its customers and Team Members safe.
What They’re Saying About Colorado
“A number of tech companies have moved here bringing jobs to the area. I’ve spoken with many people that visit Colorado and fall in love with all it has to offer. It’s not long until visitors pack up their U-Haul trucks and head this way. The growth I’m seeing is in the suburbs.” — Tavis Larson, U-Haul Company of West Central Colorado president
“People are leaving Denver for the more affordable areas. Real estate is still booming in Colorado. There are new apartment complexes everywhere. I moved here 20 years ago. There was nothing but fields in some of these areas. Now there’s new builds everywhere.” — Falisha Linguist, U-Haul Company of Northern Colorado president
