Florida is the No. 3 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. Florida has been among the top four growth states each of the past six years.
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.
Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia round out the top 10 growth states, creating 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.
Florida Growth Data
People coming to Florida in one-way U-Haul trucks increased 2% during the past year, while departures rose about 4% from 2019. Despite the larger rise in departures, arrivals still accounted for nearly 50.2% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Florida during 2020 to make it the No. 3 state for netting DIY movers, sliding two spots from its previous ranking.
Florida’s leading growth cities include North Port, Kissimmee, Port St. Lucie, Ocala, Melbourne, Panama City, the Bradenton-Sarasota corridor, North Fort Myers, Clermont and Fort Lauderdale. Other notable net-gain cities are Riverview, Palm Bay, Fort Myers, St. Augustine, Pensacola, Brandon and Miramar.
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 Florida
“Much of the growth in Florida is still attributed to retirement and the weather. It’s warm all the time, and people come from all over the country for the beach and lifestyle, as well as the numerous other benefits that Florida provides.” — Amanda Bauer, U-Haul Company of Jacksonville president
