Missouri is the No. 7 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.
Missouri moves up six spots from its No. 13 growth ranking in 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.
Colorado, 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.
Missouri Growth Data
People coming to Missouri in one-way U-Haul trucks increased more than 8% during the past year, while departures rose by less than 7% from 2019. Arrivals accounted for 50.7% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Missouri during 2020 to make it the No. 7 state for netting DIY movers.
Missouri’s leading growth cities are Kansas City, the Nixa-Ozark corridor, Lee’s Summit, Branson, Columbia and Ballwin. Other notable net-gain cities include University City, Liberty, the St. Peters-St. Charles corridor, Blue Springs and St. Joseph.
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 Missouri
“I believe that the biggest factor for people moving to Missouri is cost of living. We are still seeing new home construction. When I hear customers, friends and colleagues talk about selling their homes, it is usually under contract within a few days. Jobs are available even through this pandemic. So being ranked seventh for growth doesn’t surprise me. We have a lot of customers that have gone through life-changing events that prompt them to return to where they grew up. I’m seeing lots of people return to Missouri. In the last three years, we have purchased three new properties in my area to meet customer demand for U-Haul services. We’ve also opened 22 new dealer locations since April. I believe small businesses are looking to add supplemental income and add the U-Haul brand name to help weather the COVID storm.” — Aaron Krueger, U-Haul Company of Southern Kansas president
