The States Gaining and Losing the Most People

Here are the states where people are moving to most, and the states people are leaving overall, based on net migration figures.

Jun 16, 2023 - 18:30

0 17

The States Gaining and Losing the Most People

Hurricane season started June 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 12-17 named storms in 2023, of which one to four could become major, with winds over 111 mph.

Last year's hurricane season produced 14 named storms, eight became hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater, and two intensified to major hurricanes with winds reaching over 111 mph, including hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian did more than $100 billion in damages to Florida, and a whopping 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate.

Unfazed, and drawn to Florida's otherwise mild weather and low cost of living, people continue to move to the sunny state at a rapid rate, making Florida the fastest-growing state in the country for the first time since 1957.

Net domestic migration is the total number of people moving in and out of an area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, 26 states experienced an influx of people, with more people moving in than out, while 25 states lost movers, according to an analysis of the data by the National Association of Realtors.

While millions of people moved during the pandemic, the moving rate in the U.S. has declined for the last six years, NAR says. Nearly 70% of the ZIP codes across the U.S. experienced fewer inbound moves in 2022 compared to 2021, U.S. Postal Service change-of-address data showed.

NAR crunched the Census Bureau’s net migration data to determine the states where people are moving to most, and the states people are leaving overall. Here are all 50 states and D.C. in order of highest to lowest net migration, by percentage.