10 States Bursting at the Seams With New Residents

Americans relocate to different states for many reasons. But regardless of these reasons, certain states are unquestionably more popular. U.S. News & World Report examined which states attract the most new residents.

Birds of a Feather 

Moving truck.
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To find out which states have the most influx of new residents, U.S. News & World Report analyzed 2022 data from the Census Bureau. They determined the net migration rate by calculating the difference between those moving to and from each state. The following ranking is based on these net migration numbers, not the total number of residents that moved into them.

1: Connecticut

Town in Connecticut.
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Connecticut had the highest influx of new residents, surprising experts who spoke with U.S. News. A whopping 145,000 Americans moved to Connecticut in 2022. 

Big Apple Transplants 

Downtown New York City.
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So, where are all of these new Connecticuters coming from? According to Dowell Myers, a professor and population dynamics researcher, many are arriving from New York, mainly thanks to the remote work and pandemic flight from the increasingly expensive New York City. According to U.S. News, over one-third of Connecticut’s new residents hailed from The Empire State.

2: South Carolina

Old home in South Carolina.
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Home to gorgeous beaches and charming towns, South Carolina saw a generous number of newcomers in 2022. With a net migration rate of 1.25%, the state gained 65,309 new residents between 2021 and 2022. 

3: Delaware

Canal in Delaware.
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Although it’s one of the smallest states in the country, Americans on the move have their eyes on Delaware. In 2022, The First State’s net migration rate was 1.24%, and it gained 12,471 new residents.

4: Florida

Miami Beach.
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Retirees and young folks alike continue moving to the Sunshine State to take advantage of Florida living. The popular tourist destination gained 249,064 new residents between 2021 and 2022. Although this is a higher number than Connecticut, Florida’s net migration was 1.13% compared to Connecticut’s 1.58%.

5: Arizona

Phoenix skyline.
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Arizona rounds out the top five for attracting new residents. With a net migration rate of 1.07%, 77,995 people became Arizonans between 2021 and 2022. 

6: Idaho

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Idaho’s mountains and nature scenery may have been the driving force for some Americans looking for a change in pace. In 2022, Idaho had a net migration rate just below 1% and gained 17,407 new residents. 

7: Montana

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You’ll be hard-pressed to find a big city feel in Montana, but there’s a lot to love about living among two of the country’s most famous national parks: Yellowstone and Glacier. A substantial 9,682 Americans moved to The Treasure State between 2021 and 2022. 

8: Oklahoma

Bison grazing.
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Those looking for Southern hospitality and scenic views will find good company in Oklahoma. Americans packed their bags and moved to the state to the tune of 32,006 people in 2022. 

9: North Dakota

Overlook at sunrise in North Dakota national park.
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North Dakota landed among U.S. News’ top 10 states for infrastructure, opportunity, and fiscal stability. With a net migration rate of 0.8%, The Flickertail State gained 6,177 new residents. 

10: North Carolina

Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
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A strong economy and job opportunities helped North Carolina rank in the top ten states with the highest net migration. In total, 82,160 people called The Tar Heel State their new home in 2022.

Packing Bags 

Woman holding luggage.
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U.S. News’ data revealed that in 2022, about 2.5% of Americans lived in a different state than they did the year before. This number has steadily risen since 2018, at 2.3%. Approximately 8.2 million people moved to a different state in 2022. 

Making the Move 

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William Frey, a demographer and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, attributes the high number of state border moves to a post-pandemic economic revival and young people moving to new places. He found that 43% of those surveyed moved states for job and labor market reasons.

Not All Americans 

Woman holding up her hands.
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While it’s nice to see the trend of transplants, senior Harvard University research analyst Riordan Frost said it’s important to note the privilege of moving states on a whim. He explained that while many Americans can reshuffle their lives and move according to their desires, others don’t have that luxury.

More Migration 

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Will the trend of moving states continue as long as the popularity of remote work remains strong? Net migration pattern expert Katherine Curtis says migration is always happening around us, especially in the US. “We’re a highly industrialized, well-developed nation. And so a lot of our population change actually occurs through migration.”

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