Georgia is the No. 10 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.
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.
Colorado, Missouri, Nevada and North Carolina 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.
Georgia Growth Data
People coming to Georgia in one-way U-Haul trucks increased more than 9% during the past year, while departures rose 8% over 2019. Arrivals accounted for close to 50.2% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Georgia during 2020 to make it the No. 10 state for netting DIY movers, rising six spots from its No. 16 ranking the previous year.
Georgia’s leading growth cities are Athens, Augusta, Savannah, Statesboro and Brunswick. Other notable net-gain cities include Douglasville, Cartersville, Conyers, Dunwoody, Smyrna and Macon.
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 Georgia
“It makes sense that Georgia is a U-Haul growth state. Most people are moving here because things are open. People are moving from New York City, Detroit and Chicago because they’re following the income. There are also tons of retirees moving to the Georgia coastal region. Unemployment is low here. Things are opening back up because people are tired of sitting in their homes. People are moving to Georgia because they can’t afford where they were living before. Condos are being built everywhere. There are 200-300 units being added at a complex in the heart of Atlanta. Where there was once dirt and railroad tracks, there are now million-dollar condos. No one is moving out of Metro Atlanta.” — Jason Petty, U-Haul Company of Central Georgia president.
