Texas Loses Its Crown: The Most Popular States to Move to
Well, it finally happened. Texas has been dethroned as the reigning champ of U-Haul’s annual “growth states” rankings. After three glorious years at the top, the Lone Star State was kicked down a peg, and honestly, it’s kind of a big deal. Let’s dive into this devastating (but also kind of funny) loss for Texas and check out how the other states fared.
1. South Carolina Steals the Spotlight
Step aside, Texas; South Carolina is the new prom queen. Yes, the Palmetto State has snatched the No. 1 spot, and this is the first time it’s ever happened. Apparently, people are flocking to South Carolina for its Southern charm, reasonable prices, and opportunities—because who wouldn’t want to live near alligators and humidity so thick it’s basically soup?
According to U-Haul President John "J.T." Taylor, people are still ditching the coasts and heading to the Southeast and Southwest for better living conditions. South Carolina, take a bow—you earned it.
2. Texas is Still Popular... But Not That Popular
Texas didn’t fall too far from grace, landing at No. 2. Sure, it’s still one of the hottest states to move to (and not just because of the weather), but it seems that being almost perfect wasn’t enough this year.
Cities like Austin and Houston are still booming, and New Braunfels even ranked No. 2 nationwide for cities with the biggest population increases. But losing the No. 1 spot? It’s like being told, “You’re great, just not as great as that state.” Ouch.
3. Biggest Drama Queens of 2024
Let’s talk about the states that just couldn’t keep it together this year:
- Biggest Climbers:
- Oklahoma jumped an insane 30 spots to No. 11. How? No one knows, but congrats on becoming slightly less overlooked.
- Indiana rose 19 spots to No. 8, which is honestly kind of surprising considering it’s... well, Indiana.
- Maine climbed 18 spots to No. 13, probably because people just realized how nice lobsters and lighthouses are.
- Biggest Flops:
- Colorado tumbled 31 spots to No. 40. Looks like everyone got tired of the cold and all those Coors commercials.
- Nevada dropped 24 spots to No. 35. Too many hangovers in Vegas, maybe?
- Wyoming slid 22 spots to No. 36. Guess the cowboys aren’t enough to keep people around.
And then there’s California, the reigning champ of “Most People Moving Out” for the fifth year in a row. But Im not going to be mean to you, California...because the state is literally on fire right now.
4. The Southeast and Southwest Are Winning Big
Joining South Carolina and Texas in the top five are North Carolina (No. 3), Florida (No. 4), and Tennessee (No. 5)—the usual suspects. These states are the relocation equivalent of a safe bet: affordable, warm, and growing.
Meanwhile, the Northeast and West Coast are still losing residents faster than you can say “too expensive.” New York (No. 47), Massachusetts (No. 49), and California (last) are basically the unpopular kids of this ranking, and they just keep getting picked last for dodgeball.
Texas, You’ll Always Be No. 1 (In Our Hearts)
So there you have it. South Carolina gets to wear the crown for now, but Texas isn’t going anywhere. Sure, it’s No. 2 on the U-Haul list, but it’s still No. 1 in barbecue, cowboy hats, and inexplicably large belt buckles.
For the full list of rankings (and to see if your state actually matters), check out the U-Haul Growth Index. And hey, Texas—chin up. Maybe you'll be back on top next year.
People are moving to Texas from these 5 States
Gallery Credit: Canva