Where Are Migrants Moving? (And Are Americans Leaving Town?)

At iMoving, we’re always searching for new moving trends - whether they’re statewide, nationwide, or shaped by international migration.

Our team analyzed US Census data to find out which states were receiving the most new arrivals from other countries. Then, we cross-referenced the data with our own moving database to track where folks were moving across the country.

Does international migration drive domestic migration? And which states gained and lost the most people due to state-to-state relocations? Here are the fast facts:

• International arrivals: According to the US Census Bureau’s latest data, the United States received an estimated 2,362,565 new arrivals from foreign countries. 43.66% of these arrivals went to just four states: California, Florida, Texas, and New York.

• Domestic moving trends: It’s not just international migration. According to our data, 22% of state-to-state moves were also going to California, Florida, and Texas. (although California is still losing more people than it’s gaining).

• Trends we noticed from the data: Most moving destinations have a universal appeal. However, New Jersey and Massachusetts leaned more towards international arrivals, while Arizona, Ohio, and Georgia leaned towards domestic arrivals from other states.

iMoving has completed thousands of moves for customers all across the country, which provides us with in-depth information on American moving patterns. To build this study, we compared our moving database with data collected by the United States Census Bureau.

For international migration to the United States, we referred to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. This survey contains data on state-to-state migration flows, including the number of arrivals from a foreign country. 

We referred to our in-house moving data to find domestic migration trends. These trends highlighted which states were losing or gaining the most people due to state-to-state migration. Our in-house moving statistics also provided a look at which moving routes were the most popular across the United States (for example, “California to Texas” or “Florida to New Jersey”).

We used the most recent information published by the US Census Bureau, which provides data for 2023 and was published in October of 2024. Our own moving data came from 2,838 moves completed between 2022 and 2025, of which 564 were state-to-state relocations.

iMoving is an online moving marketplace that connects guests with vetted and verified moving companies. We’re the only place that lets users search for movers, compare prices, and book a move completely online.

Our team has over 30 years of experience in the moving industry, and our platform has over 1,000 vetted moving partners. Our mission is to make moving easier than ever - and a big part of that mission is analyzing moving data to pinpoint which markets are heating up.

We’re always on the lookout for more interesting data and trends. Keep an eye out for the next study by iMoving, and we’ll make sure you’re in the know.

Moving out of California? Moving in to California? Whatever direction you’re headed, iMoving can help. Tell us more about your move, and find the best moving company for the job. No house calls; no phone calls - just share your move details, and we’ll connect you with the best movers in the business.