
Where Americans Are Moving in 2025: Top States Gained and Lost
Internal migration in the United States is well-developed and encouraged by the government. The main driving force of this process lies in the structure of the U. S., which grants states broad authority in shaping tax policy, as well as prices for services and housing.
As a result, situations arise where some states impose specific taxes that consume an additional 5–15% of income, while others have no income tax at all.
In this material, we will examine why Americans are leaving certain states in 2025 and where they move most often.
States Americans Are Leaving the Most
In 2025, there are five clear leaders among U. S. states that continue to lose population. The reasons for outmigration vary, but most often they come down to economic factors such as the cost of living and tax burden.
The five states Americans are leaving:
- California. High housing costs, an income tax of up to 13.3%, and frequent wildfires are compounded by high crime rates, even in major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 2024, about 500,000 people left California, and in 2025, the ratio of out-migration to in-migration reached 0.65. In other words, for every two people moving into the state, three are leaving.
- New York. New York has high tax rates (up to 10.9%) and very expensive rent (over $4000/month in New York City). The high population density also creates “megacity fatigue,” pushing residents to relocate to less densely populated neighboring states.
- Illinois. The economic decline of what was once a leading region has fueled population outflow. In 2025, the in-migration/out-migration ratio was only slightly better than California’s 0.72.
- Louisiana. A weak economy and high poverty rates drive people to move to regions with higher wages and more affordable housing. The median household income in Louisiana remains below $60,000.
- Michigan. The state shows a steady negative migration balance of tens of thousands of people annually. Job losses in the auto industry, a harsh climate, and high utility costs encourage young professionals to leave the region.
States with the Highest Inbound Migration
Internal migrants from expensive states do not often move too far. Most of the time, they choose neighboring or nearby states that offer more comfortable living conditions.
The five states where Americans are moving in 2025:
- South Carolina. The state stands out with a relatively low median home price of about $300,000. Property taxes are only 0.55%, and the average population density does not overload the rental housing market. In 2025, the in-migration to out-migration ratio reached 2.05 (two new residents for every one person leaving).
- North Carolina. Neighboring South Carolina, the state demonstrates significant growth in the technology sector. The median home price here is higher than about $350,000 in South Carolina, yet still considered affordable.
- Tennessee. The state’s popularity is largely driven by the absence of a personal income tax. Tennessee also has no coastline, which positively impacts the median home price of around $320,000. The in/out migration ratio is 1.62.
- Texas. Texas is gaining attractiveness among internal migrants not only due to the absence of an income tax, but also because of strong economic growth. The latter accelerated notably after Tesla relocated its headquarters to the state. Despite this, the median home price remains around $300,000, which is highly affordable.
- Florida. Florida attracts internal migrants with a median home price of $450,000, which is higher than in the other inbound migration states like the Carolinas and Tennessee, but much lower than in California or the major cities of the Northeast. The state has no personal income tax, and its property tax rate is about 0.86%, below the U. S. average.
Why Americans Are Moving: Key Factors in 2025
The leading motive for migration remains economic. States with high population density often face strong housing demand, and where demand rises, so do property prices. In addition, several other factors play an important role in:
- Tax burden. High personal income taxes push residents to relocate to states without them. In 2024, 18% of migrants cited taxes as the key reason Americans are relocating.
- Economic opportunities. Regions experiencing rapid economic growth create many new jobs, which lowers competition and makes it easier to find employment.
- Climate factors. The U. S. is a vast country with several distinct climate zones. People from colder regions, such as Alaska, often move to southern states. The same applies to areas prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. People tend to seek locations less exposed to natural hazards.
- Political polarization. Some residents of Democratic states (e. g., California, New York) relocate to Republican states (e. g., Texas, South Carolina) due to disagreements with local policies, and the opposite also occurs.
Interstate Migration Patterns and Data
Internal migration in the United States in 2025 forms complex flows between states, reflecting the economic, social, and climate preferences of Americans. According to the PODS Moving Trends Report, the South remained the only U. S. region with positive net migration of about 2 million people. Most newcomers came from the West (760,000) and the Northeast (639,000).
While the West and Northeast continue to lose population, interest in the Upper Midwest has been growing, particularly in states such as Minnesota and North Dakota.
Another notable U. S. migration trend is linked to political preferences. U. S. society is relatively highly politicized, and local governments often adhere to the agenda of a particular party. However, some states are considered politically undecided, where partisan issues are less central to public life. Four of the seven such “swing states,” North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and Arizona, are ranked among the top 10 states by net migration in 2024. This suggests that more people are increasingly seeking to relocate to places with greater freedom from political pressure on either side.

Cities with the Largest Population Gains
When speaking about the states Americans are moving to, it is important to note that their landscapes are not uniform. Some cities attract significantly more new residents than others. Let us look at five cities with the highest population growth:
- Conway, South Carolina. Low housing costs, proximity to the popular Myrtle Beach resort, and the presence of a major educational center, Coastal Carolina University (CCU), made the city attractive to young families and students.
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The city is especially popular among retirees. According to migration data by the U. S. Census Bureau (2025), the number of residents aged 65+ increased by 6.3% over the past year, the highest growth rate among all U. S. metropolitan areas.
- Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh is part of the prestigious Research Triangle Park. Its environment is home to technology, science, and education companies, creating strong demand for both talent and housing.
- Orlando, Florida. Orlando became the leader in population growth within Florida, driven by the development of the Horizon West residential area and the construction of 1400 new units, of which 1000 belong to the affordable housing segment.
- Princeton, Texas. The median home price in Princeton is about $325,000. It is significantly cheaper than in nearby fast-growing cities such as Frisco or McKinney. Additionally, Princeton is located in Collin County, roughly an hour northeast of Dallas, within the rapidly developing Dallas—Fort Worth (DFW) metro area.
Cities Experiencing the Biggest Population Declines
If there are cities experiencing strong inflows, there are also those where people, on the contrary, are eager to leave. These are usually large metropolitan areas or regions where rising housing costs push residents to relocate to suburbs.
The five cities with the highest outmigration:
- West Des Moines, Iowa. Despite the overall stability of the Des Moines regional economy, this suburb shows a high level of outbound moves. Young professionals prefer larger and more dynamic Midwest metropolitan areas. The city topped the “outbound” list with an in/out migration ratio of just 0.13 (about one newcomer for every eight departures).
- San Francisco, California. Extremely high housing costs (median sales price $1.27–1.43 million), rising living expenses, and the outflow of tech professionals due to companies shifting toward hybrid or office-based models placed the city second in terms of population loss.
- New York City, New York. The main drivers of outmigration are expensive rents, high taxes, and shifting preferences as some residents move to suburbs and neighboring states.
- Tampa, Florida. The city’s in/out migration ratio stands at about 0.73 (meaning four departures for every three arrivals). Formally, Tampa is still growing, but the outflow is substantial.
- Chicago, Illinois. According to official census data, Chicago’s population grew by 22,000 people in 2024. However, PODS statistics for 2025 ranked Chicago seventh among U. S. cities where people are leaving most often. In other words, while headline numbers still show stability, real migration dynamics indicate that families and young professionals are choosing other cities to live in.
How Remote Work Continues to Shape U. S. Migration
Remote work has changed the way Americans choose where to live. According to United Van Lines data for 2024, about 30% of migrants cited remote work as a factor influencing their relocation. People are moving out of expensive metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, where the median home price reaches $1,500,000, into regions with more affordable housing.
Suburbs and smaller towns have become the main destinations for migrants. In 2025, 42.39% of movers chose suburban areas, with most respondents being families with low incomes under $50,000.
A partial return to office work in 2024–2025 slowed the outflow from large cities. Major companies require employees to be present in the office 3–5 days per week, making it difficult to radically change one’s place of residence.
A significant share of those relocating to cities with strong economic growth are young people aged 25–35, while families with children prefer suburban areas.
Comparing 2025 Data to Previous Years
Internal migration in the United States has undergone significant changes in recent years. Between 2020 and 2022, Americans moved particularly actively: about 28 million people changed their place of residence, with nearly one-fifth of those relocations being interstate.
In 2023–2024, migration activity declined sharply. The share of people moving fell to a historic low of 8% of the population. During this period, Idaho unexpectedly became the leader in inbound migration, accounting for 69% of all relocations in 2024.
Interstate migration in 2025, the overall volume of moves continues to decrease. Southern states remain the main centers of attraction for migrants, especially South Carolina and North Carolina. Tennessee has risen to second place in popularity, while Florida has dropped to third.
The reasons for migration have also shifted. In the early pandemic years, remote work played a decisive role, driving 30–35% of relocations. Other key motives included the desire to be closer to family (25%) and the search for more spacious housing (20%).
In 2023–2024, the main drivers were family reunification (30%) and cheaper housing (21%), but the gradual return to office work slowed the outflow from major metropolitan areas such as New York City.
In 2025, priorities were distributed as follows: closeness to family was cited as the main factor by 23% of migrants, housing affordability by 12%, and proximity to work by 9%. Remote work migration trends remain significant for 18–24% of Americans, which sustains the appeal of suburbs and smaller cities such as Conway, South Carolina, or Morgantown, West Virginia.
Conclusion: What These Trends Mean for the U. S. Housing Market
The main driver of outbound migration is the state’s financial environment: high housing costs and taxes push people to seek places with lower living expenses. Yet here lies a paradox: an influx of internal migrants drives up demand for housing, and prices begin to climb. Once they move beyond the threshold of affordability, the region becomes too expensive, and people are again forced to look for more affordable alternatives.
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