Most Popular Moving Routes in America

According to the US Census, 2.3% of all Americans chose to move to a different state in 2023 (the most recent year for Census statistics). But the states they chose to move to varied, and every state sent their transplants someplace else.

Are Californians really flooding Texas? And where are all the Floridians moving to? We looked at the most popular moving routes in America to see where your new neighbors are coming from.

Key Takeaways:

• “California to Texas”, “New York to Florida”, and “New York to New Jersey” were the three most popular moving routes, followed closely by “Florida to Georgia” and “California to Arizona”. 
• According to US Census data, almost 100,000 Californians moved to Texas in 2023 alone. Although California ranked high as a destination for state-to-state moving, it was still losing more people than it was gaining.
• Of the top 10 moving routes, 9 went from more expensive to less expensive states, signifying a strong economic reason for relocation.

At iMoving, we’re committed to factual reporting and in-depth data. To build this study, we referred to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. This is the most up-to-date data published by the Census Bureau, and was released in October of 2024.

The American Community Survey includes tons of information, but importantly, it includes data on which states received the most new arrivals - and where those arrivals were coming from in the first place. We analyzed the Census data for every state, which gave us a complete picture of popular routes for state-to-state moving.

Why does this information matter?

A few key reasons. First, if the latest moving data is any indication, certain housing markets experience growth or shrinkage depending on the number of arrivals and departures. Secondly, the popularity of moving routes affects the price of state-to-state moving.

We found out which state-to-state moving routes were the most popular, and once we found out what states were the most popular destinations, we also found out where all their transplants were coming from. But what do these trends tell us?

First of all: California is Losing a Lot of People

Not only was California  the point of origin for four of the top ten moving routes, but it also kept popping up when we zoomed in on the most popular destinations for state-to-state moving. Californian transplants were a common sight when we analyzed moving trends for Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. (And with a median home price of $787,508, we totally get it.)

Secondly: Cheaper States are Experiencing More Arrivals (for the Most Part)

When we looked at the data for the most popular moving routes, we saw that with the exception of Florida to Georgia, Americans were moving to more affordable states. 9 of the top 10 moving routes went from more expensive states to cheaper states.

These moving trends can affect the moving industry, especially if you’re interested in leaving California. While there may be plenty of different routes - and more movers servicing those routes - there may also be additional expenses as demand ramps up. And as more and more transplants move in, that much-sought-after affordability may disappear as house prices increase, too.

iMoving is a one-stop moving marketplace. Our online platform allows users to shop for movers, compare prices, and book a relocation entirely online, without the need for intrusive in-home estimates or lengthy phone calls.

Our mission is to make moving easier than ever. This means connecting customers with movers they can trust, but it also means keeping our readers informed about the latest moving trends - and providing must-have, must-know tips and tricks to make moving more efficient, more streamlined, and more enjoyable. 

Want to see more? Take a look at these other studies, made with our own-in house moving data.

• Politics of Moving: Are Red States more popular destinations than Blue States?
• Most Popular Destinations in America: A Zoomed-in look at nationwide moving trends
• International Migration: Which states are seeing more international arrivals, and where are Americans choosing to move instead?

We’re all about moving data, but if you’re ready to hit the road, we’re ready to help with that, too. Tell us more about where you’re going (and what services you’ll need), and let’s get packing.