Which States Are Residents Escaping, and to Which Ones Are They Running?

In search of affordable housing, job opportunities, and a lower cost of living, residents are leaving states that are high-cost or have lower levels of opportunity in favor of settling down in places that they feel have potential. In a study by Atlas Van Lines that tracked migration patterns found that people are settling down in states such as Idaho and North Carolina. One surprise in their data: Despite all the talk about people leaving California in droves, the pricey state did not make the top ten with the highest rate of outbound migration. Instead, New York topped this list, followed closely by West Virginia and South Dakota. 

A new study by Atlas Van Lines that tracked migration patterns throughout the country in 2019 found more Americans are moving to Idaho than any other state. The Gem State continued a pattern of drawing new residents, ranking as the survey’s inbound leader for the second time since 2017. On the other hand, more people are looking to escape from New York, the nation’s outbound move leader last year, a designation the Empire State also held in 2014.

The study by the national moving company found that 26 states registered as balanced, meaning that moves in and out of the states and Washington, D.C., were roughly equal. The data also showed a decrease in moves from 2018 to 2019. 

Inbound moves to Colorado last year dominated outbound moves for the first time in a decade, while Oregon lost its inbound status for the first time since 2012 and became balanced. Texas achieved inbound status after spending 2016 to 2018 as balanced. Additionally, Ohio gained a balanced classification for the first time since 2002. 

Last year’s total number of interstate and cross-border moves in North America reached 66,308, down from 71,092 in 2018.

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