A southern migration is sweeping the U.S., but it’s not about the weather.
The National Association of Realtors' 2024 Migration Trends report shows Southern states leading in attracting movers. Surprisingly, only 1% said they moved for climate-related reasons, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The study found housing was the main driver, with 42% moving for that reason. Family reasons accounted for 26%, and 16% moved for work. Just 2% moved because of return-to-office policies.
The top states for movers in 2023 were:
- Florida – 372,870 net migration
- Texas – 315,301 net migration
- North Carolina – 126,712 net migration
- South Carolina – 91,853 net migration
- Georgia – 88,325 net migration
Tennessee ranked sixth with over 76,000 net migrants. Arizona followed with 57,814, Alabama with 36,128, and Oklahoma with 31,967. Ohio, the only northern state in the top 10, saw 28,718 net migrants.
The South, already the most populous U.S. region, continues to grow. Since the pandemic, migration has added 706,266 people to the region, Census Bureau data shows.
Meanwhile, California saw the largest population loss in 2023, shedding 75,423 residents.
California’s decline began in 2020 during strict COVID-19 lockdowns. Between January 2020 and July 2022, the state lost over 500,000 people, with nearly 700,000 more leaving than moving in.
Other states losing population in 2023 include Hawaii (-4,261), Illinois (-32,826), Louisiana (-14,274), New York (-101,984), Oregon (-6,021), Pennsylvania (-10,408), and West Virginia (-3,964).
Across generations, Americans moved for affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, new jobs, being closer to family, and living in areas aligned with their values.