Over 7.5 million Americans move across state lines each year, and in 2026, the same destinations keep rising to the top of the list. No state income tax, affordable housing, growing job markets, and warmer climates are driving one of the most significant internal migration patterns in modern U.S. history. According to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates, the fastest-growing state in America is South Carolina at 1.5% annual growth — while states like California, New York, and Illinois continue to post net domestic out-migration. Here are the 10 states attracting the most new residents in 2026, and why people are making the move.
1. Texas — 391,243 New Residents in 2025
Texas has topped U-Haul’s national Growth Index for multiple consecutive years, and 2025 was no exception. The state added 391,243 new residents last year — more than any other state in absolute numbers. The draw is straightforward: no state income tax, a massive and diversified job market spanning energy, technology, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, and housing costs well below coastal markets.
Dallas–Fort Worth has become one of the most corporate-headquarters-dense metros in the country. Austin’s tech corridor continues to attract Silicon Valley transplants despite rapid price appreciation. Houston and San Antonio offer large urban job markets with lower costs than Austin. The Lone Star State is big enough that wherever you’re coming from, there’s likely a Texas city that fits your lifestyle.
Who’s moving there: Tech workers, energy professionals, corporate relocations, retirees fleeing high-tax states, and remote workers seeking affordability.
2. Florida — 26% Net Inbound Search Demand in 2026
Florida added 196,980 new residents in 2025 and leads all states in 2026 inbound demand searches with a 26% net inbound rate. The appeal is well-established: no state income tax, year-round warm weather, beaches, and a growing economy anchored in tourism, finance, healthcare, and real estate.
Miami has emerged as a serious financial hub, with a concentration of hedge funds, venture capital, and private equity that has transformed its business landscape. Tampa and Jacksonville are mid-size alternatives with lower costs than South Florida. The Villages near Ocala remains the fastest-growing city in the U.S. and is almost entirely retiree-driven.
The significant caveat: homeowners insurance costs in Florida — particularly in coastal zones — have reached a crisis level, with average premiums of $4,200–$6,000/year and some coastal homes paying $10,000+ annually. Anyone planning to buy property in Florida should price insurance before committing to a location.
Who’s moving there: Retirees, financial professionals, remote workers, and families seeking warm weather and no income tax.
3. North Carolina — 145,907 New Residents in 2025
North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in absolute terms, driven by the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill), Charlotte’s finance and banking sector, and Asheville’s arts and outdoor recreation appeal. The state’s cost of living sits slightly below the national average, and housing in Raleigh and Charlotte remains meaningfully more affordable than comparable coastal metros.
NC does have a state income tax (currently 4.5%, with a scheduled reduction to 3.99%), but lower housing costs and a strong job market make it compelling even compared to no-tax states. The Triangle metro is home to major tech and pharma employers, including several that have relocated from more expensive metros. Charlotte is the second-largest banking hub in the U.S. after New York City.
Who’s moving there: Northeastern transplants seeking affordability, tech and pharma workers, and retirees drawn to mountains and mild climate.
4. South Carolina — Fastest Percentage Growth at 1.5%
South Carolina is growing faster than any other state in percentage terms, at 1.5% annually per Census Bureau estimates. The areas driving this growth are the Charleston metro (combining coastal beauty with a rapidly expanding tech and aerospace sector), Greenville-Spartanburg (manufacturing and BMW’s U.S. production facility), and the Myrtle Beach corridor (retirement and coastal lifestyle).
South Carolina’s cost of living is among the lowest in the Southeast, property taxes are some of the lowest in the nation, and the state offers significant property tax breaks for primary residents over 65. The state does levy an income tax (top rate 6.4%), but its affordability in other categories often more than compensates.
Who’s moving there: Retirees, families seeking affordable coastal living, manufacturing workers, and remote workers pricing out of Charlotte and Raleigh.
5. Arizona — Phoenix and Tucson Drawing Significant Inflow
Arizona consistently ranks among the top five inbound migration destinations. Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing major metros in the country — its population has grown 20% since 2010. The state’s combination of dry heat (preferred by many who dislike Florida’s humidity), no inheritance tax, relatively low property taxes, and a diversified economy make it compelling.
Arizona’s flat income tax rate dropped to 2.5% in 2023, making it one of the most tax-competitive states in the country. Housing has appreciated significantly in Phoenix since 2020 but remains below Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle levels — which is where many Arizona transplants are coming from.
Who’s moving there: California transplants, retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, and remote workers seeking affordability with a dry climate.
6. Tennessee — Nashville and Memphis Leading Growth
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages and is consistently listed among the top 10 inbound migration states. Nashville’s explosive growth over the past decade has transformed it from a regional music hub into a major metro with a diversified economy in healthcare, tech, finance, and music. The cost of living, while rising, remains meaningfully below coastal alternatives.
Memphis offers a significantly lower cost of living than Nashville and is a major logistics hub (home to FedEx’s global headquarters). Chattanooga has become a tech-forward mid-size city. Knoxville offers the combination of a university town, outdoor access to the Smoky Mountains, and low cost of living.
Who’s moving there: Music and entertainment workers, healthcare professionals, families seeking no income tax and moderate cost of living, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
7. Georgia — Atlanta Drawing Professionals From Across the Country
Georgia’s growth is concentrated in metro Atlanta, which has become one of the most economically diverse large cities in the South. Film and TV production (Georgia is the third-largest film market in the world), technology (with a growing presence from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon), finance, and logistics all drive employment. The Hartsfield-Jackson airport makes Atlanta the best-connected domestic hub in the country.
Georgia’s state income tax is being phased down — it dropped to 5.49% in 2024 with planned reductions to 4.99% by 2029. Housing in Atlanta proper is more expensive than other Southeast cities but still below NYC, Chicago, and California markets. The suburbs offer significantly more for the money.
Who’s moving there: Entertainment and tech professionals, families seeking Southern cost-of-living advantages with a big-city job market.
8. Idaho — #1 In-to-Out Move Ratio in Early 2026
Idaho has the highest in-to-out move ratio of any state in early 2026, at 2.05 — meaning more than two moves in for every move out. The Census Bureau shows Idaho growing at 1.4% annually. Boise is the epicenter of this growth: a mid-size city with a strong outdoor recreation culture, a growing tech sector, and housing that is still more affordable than Portland, Seattle, or the Bay Area despite significant appreciation since 2020.
Idaho’s appeal is almost entirely lifestyle and affordability-driven. The state has an income tax (top rate 5.8%), but housing costs, outdoor access, and quality of life attract a consistent flow of Pacific Northwest and California transplants who want mountain living without the premium price tags of Colorado or Montana.
Who’s moving there: Pacific Northwest and California transplants, outdoor enthusiasts, remote workers, and families seeking lower costs and less urban density.
9. Montana — +42 Percentage Points of Inbound Interest Since 2025
Montana is emerging as a surprising migration destination, with inbound interest increasing 42 percentage points compared to 2025. The state has no sales tax and a growing reputation for quality of life, outdoor recreation, and relative affordability compared to its western neighbors. Bozeman and Missoula are the primary urban centers, both anchored by universities and growing tech and remote-worker communities.
Montana’s primary limitation is economic diversity — the job market is limited outside of agriculture, tourism, and university employment. It draws primarily remote workers and retirees who don’t need to find local employment. Housing in Bozeman has appreciated rapidly and is no longer cheap by rural standards, but remains below comparable mountain resort towns.
Who’s moving there: Remote workers seeking wide-open spaces, retirees, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and professionals leaving high-cost western markets.
10. South Carolina’s Neighbor: North Carolina’s Continued Pull
While covered above, it’s worth noting that the Research Triangle and Charlotte are drawing consistent inbound migration from the entire Eastern Seaboard. Raleigh ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. in 2025. The combination of a growing tech and pharma job market, universities that feed local employment, a moderate climate, and housing that remains affordable compared to D.C., Boston, and New York makes NC a perennial top-10 destination.
Why Are People Leaving Their Home States?
The pull factors above only explain half the story. People leave their home states for a consistent set of push factors:
- Housing costs: California, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii have median home prices that put homeownership out of reach for middle-income households
- State income taxes: California (13.3% top rate), New York (10.9%), New Jersey (10.75%), and Illinois (4.95% flat) drive high-earners to seek no-tax alternatives
- Cost of living: Groceries, utilities, and everyday expenses in coastal metros significantly exceed national averages
- Remote work flexibility: The decoupling of income from geography allows workers to keep their salary while moving to a lower-cost state
- Quality of life tradeoffs: Traffic, urban density, public safety concerns, and school quality drive family relocation decisions
What to Know Before You Move to Any of These States
Choosing a destination state is the first decision. Executing the move successfully requires understanding that interstate relocations are federally regulated, more expensive than local moves, and subject to a longer planning timeline.
Interstate moving costs in 2026 range from $1,500 for a studio apartment to $12,000+ for a full household. Peak season (May–September) adds 30–40% to any quote. For any of the states listed above, book your interstate carrier 6–8 weeks in advance — carriers on popular routes like CA→TX, NY→FL, and IL→TN fill their calendars quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Most Popular States to Move to in 2026
What is the #1 state people are moving to in 2026?
Texas leads in absolute new residents (391,243 in 2025), while Florida leads in 2026 search intent at 26% net inbound. South Carolina is the fastest-growing state by percentage at 1.5% annual growth. Idaho has the highest in-to-out move ratio at 2.05.
Which state is the cheapest to move to in 2026?
Among high-growth states, South Carolina and Tennessee consistently rank as the most affordable, with housing costs below the national average and low property taxes. Tennessee and Texas also offer no state income tax, adding to the financial advantage.
What states are people leaving the most in 2026?
California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois consistently top outbound migration lists. High state income taxes, expensive housing, and cost of living pressures are the primary drivers. Massachusetts and Connecticut are also posting net out-migration as residents seek affordability in the Southeast and Sun Belt.
Is it a good time to move to Texas or Florida in 2026?
Both remain strong destinations with active job markets. Texas offers better housing affordability and lower insurance costs. Florida offers lower property taxes and beach lifestyle but carries significant homeowners insurance costs in coastal areas. Both are valid choices depending on your priorities — get quotes for your specific route and destination city before committing.
How do I find a licensed interstate mover for my move to one of these states?
Every legitimate interstate moving company must hold a USDOT number and MC number from the FMCSA. Verify any company at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before booking. Get at least three written estimates for your route, and never accept a quote without a walkthrough of your household inventory.
Ready to Make Your Move?
The states listed above are gaining residents for good reason — but the logistics of getting there matter just as much as choosing the right destination. An interstate move requires a licensed carrier, careful timing, and a plan that starts 6–8 weeks out.
Get free moving quotes here and compare rates from licensed interstate carriers for your specific origin and destination. Whether you’re heading to Texas, Florida, or anywhere in between, the right mover makes the difference between a smooth relocation and a stressful one.
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