The Palmetto State has officially become the go-to destination for Americans packing up and starting fresh, according to a new study from U-Haul that analyzes data from 2024.
South Carolina climbed to the top spot on the moving company’s annual ranking, knocking Texas to second place after the Lone Star State’s three-year reign.
Meanwhile, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee rounded out the top five. The study, which analyzed more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul trips, revealed a continuing trend: Americans are increasingly heading south.
“State-to-state transactions from the past year reaffirm customer tendencies that have been pronounced for some time,” said John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul’s international president.
“Migration to the Southeast and Southwest continues as families gauge their cost of living, job opportunities, quality of life and other factors that go into relocating to a new state.”
Known for its charm, beaches and low cost of living, South Carolina has become a magnet for retirees and young families alike.
Myrtle Beach, in particular, has seen explosive growth.
The beachfront hotspot, famous for its 60-mile stretch of sand, now boasts the nation’s fastest-growing population of residents over 65, with a staggering 23% increase from 2020 to 2023, according to the US Census Bureau.
While…