Florida welcomed more than just sunshine and tourists in 2019. It welcomed more U-Haul® moving trucks entering its borders than leaving them, making it the No. 1 state in growth for the first time in four years.
Texas dropped one spot to second place, while continuing its strong run as a “do-it-yourself” (DIY) moving destination. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington round out the top five fastest-growing states for 2019.
California ranked 49th, and Illinois ranked 50th for the fourth time in five years, joining the out-migration states with the largest net losses of U-Haul trucks crossing their borders.
States with population growth are calculated based on the net gain of one-way truck rentals entering a state versus those leaving that state during a calendar year. Migration trend data is compiled from more than 2 million U-Haul one-way truck rental transactions that occur annually.
Although changes in U-Haul truck usage do not tend to correlate directly with population or economic growth, the company’s growth data is an effective indicator of how well cities and states are attracting and retaining residents.
“Florida has been showing signs of growth for a decade,” said Miguel Caminos, president of the U-Haul Company in Orlando. “Central Florida is really growing. I can’t think of any major suburb where there aren’t residential developments or new shopping centers under construction.”
“People who move here expect a comfortable life. They know there are jobs. Plus, there are countless attractions, and our state is family-friendly. The weather is perfect, and no matter where you live, you’re less than an hour from the beach.”
One-way truck arrivals in Florida increased by 1%, while departures fell by 1% compared with the state’s 2018 figures. Arrivals accounted for 50.6% of all U-Haul traffic in the state.
Kissimmee, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, and the Bradenton-Sarasota corridor lead the way in Florida. Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Pensacola, Miami, and St. Petersburg are among the other notable cities to see a net increase in U-Haul trucks.
Alabama was the biggest climber year-over-year in the rankings, rising 36 spots to No. 6. Maryland saw the biggest drop, falling 39 spots to No. 45. Utah and Vermont, the top 10 fastest-growing states in 2018, maintained their attractive status in 2019.
Visit myuhaulstory.com for press releases for each of the top 10 fastest-growing states, as well as announcements regarding the top 25 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. (January 7) and the top 25 fastest-growing cities in Canada (January 8).
“I’m not surprised that Florida is the No. 1 state in terms of growth, even after the hurricanes (in 2019),” added Cal Conner, president of U-Haul Company of East Florida. “We’re Floridians—we’re not going anywhere. Our communities stick together. We came together, and U-Haul provided free self-storage to affected residents. Our neighbors are our family.”
U-Haul is the authority on migration trends, thanks to its extensive network covering all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographic coverage of more than 22,000 U-Haul truck and trailer rental locations provides a comprehensive view of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.