Calgary repeats as leading city, Alberta repeats as leading province on migration trends lists
For the third year in a row, Alberta is the No. 1 growth province and Calgary is the No. 1 U-Haul Canadian growth city, according to U-Haul® Growth Index data analyzing one-way customer transactions during 2025.
British Columbia ranks second among provinces for netting U-Haul customers, while Ontario remains last with the largest loss of do-it-yourself movers for the third consecutive year.
Barrie, Montreal, Victoria and Edmonton join Calgary among Canada’s top five growth cities for 2025. Vancouver ranks seventh and Toronto 10th.
“Alberta continues to stay at the top of the U-Haul Growth Index because of the strong job market, lower cost of living, high wages, and the abundance of outdoor recreation,” Razmin Mansoub, U-Haul Area District Vice President for Western Canada, said.
“People are also continuing to move to British Columbia for the natural beauty and the tempered climate, especially in comparison to the other provinces. BC also has strong healthcare and education systems that attract young couples and families.”
Manitoba jumped from eighth and a net-loss province in 2024 to third and a net-gain province in 2025. It boasts two growth cities among Canada’s top 25: Winnipeg at No. 9 and Brandon at No. 25.
“Manitoba has seen some of the largest growth in my region,” Mansoub added. “A lot of the same things that have contributed to Alberta’s success are also contributing to Manitoba’s (success): strong job market, affordable housing, low cost of living. Manitoba also has a lot of multicultural communities which bring people together.”
2025 Canadian Growth Provinces
1. ALBERTA (1)
2. BRITISH COLUMBIA (2)
3. MANITOBA (8)
4. SASKATCHEWAN (5)
5. QUEBEC (7)
6. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (6)
7. NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR (3)
8. NEW BRUNSWICK (3)
9. NOVA SCOTIA (9)
10. ONTARIO (10)
* 2024 rankings in parentheses
2025 Top 25 Canadian Growth Cities
1. CALGARY, AB (1)
2. BARRIE, ON (13)
3. MONTREAL, QC
4. VICTORIA, BC
5. EDMONTON, AB (2)
6. KELOWNA, BC (23)
7. VANCOUVER, BC
8. RICHMOND, BC
9. WINNIPEG, MB
10. TORONTO, ON
11. ST. THOMAS, ON (12)
12. NORTH VANCOUVER, BC
13. BRANTFORD, ON (6)
14. PARRY SOUND, ON (9)
15. CAMROSE, AB
16. SALMON ARM, BC
17. LETHBRIDGE, AB
18. SARNIA, ON (21)
19. RICHMOND HILL, ON
20. LINDSAY, ON (15)
21. SAINT-HUBERT, QC
22. BELLEVILLE, ON (3)
23. SHERBROOKE, QC
24. SIDNEY, BC (20)
25. BRANDON, MB
* 2024 rankings in parentheses
Growth formula
U-Haul ranks provinces and cities by their net gain (or loss) of customers who rented a one-way truck, trailer or U-Box® moving containers in one province or city proper and dropped off their equipment in another province or city proper.
The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from well over 2.5 million annual one-way transactions across Canada and the U.S.
While rankings may not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well provinces and cities are attracting and maintaining residents. Find migration trends press releases and past reports at uhaul.com/about/migration.
Many Ontario Cities Thriving
Despite its province-wide net loss of U-Haul customers, Ontario has numerous net-gain markets and boasts nine of Canada’s top 25 growth cities — more than any other province.
“The best part about Ontario is that it offers a mix of everything,” stated Jake Spelic, U-Haul Area District Vice President for Central Canada. “We have big cities, small towns, recreational areas, cultural diversity and sports teams. The quality of living in Ontario is amazing. There is a booming job market throughout the province. We see opportunities in the education, finance, consulting, IT and engineering sectors.
“The bulk of the people coming into Ontario are arriving from Quebec and the Maritimes. When we see people leaving Ontario, they go west towards Alberta more than anywhere else.”
DIY Moving and Storage Leader
U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 10 Canadian provinces and 50 American states. The geographical coverage from more than 24,000 rental locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.
Celebrating 80 years of moving families to a better life, U-Haul is a veteran-founded and family-run organization that benefits the environment through its shared-use business model.
U-Haul strives to ease the stress of a residential move by providing customers with one month of free self-storage services at a U-Haul-owned facility near their destination when they make a qualifying one-way equipment rental. Take advantage of the free month offer on the U-Haul app, uhaul.com, in store or by calling 1-800-GO-UHAUL.
