Which States are People Moving To? 2026 Rankings

Key Points (2026)

• Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia lead all states in attracting new residents through combinations of affordable housing, strong job markets, favorable tax structures, and quality of life factors
• Oregon surprised migration analysts by jumping to top inbound destination in 2025 with 65 percent net migration ratio, driven by tech jobs, outdoor lifestyle, and no state income tax
• Remote work fundamentally changed relocation decisions, allowing people to keep metropolitan salaries while moving to affordable regions where that same income creates genuine wealth building and quality of life improvements

Which States Are Attracting The Most People Right Now

Texas: Tech Jobs Plus No Income Tax Equals Sustained Growth

Texas continues as America’s top destination for relocators through a combination that proves almost impossible to beat: zero state income tax, thriving technology job markets, and housing that costs dramatically less than coastal alternatives. Austin specifically functions as genuine tech hub rivaling Silicon Valley for innovation and startup energy, with companies like Tesla, Oracle, and countless smaller tech firms creating legitimate career opportunities that attract young professionals from California and New York seeking similar work in more affordable locations. Dallas offers different appeal through strong finance and banking employment combined with urban amenities and less startup-focused intensity.

What makes Texas work for relocators is the financial math that feels almost unfair compared to staying in high-cost states. Someone earning $100,000 annually keeps roughly $10,000 more each year through zero state income tax compared to California or New York residents earning identical income. That difference compounds dramatically over years and decades, creating genuine opportunity for building wealth and achieving life goals that constant financial strain prevents in expensive coastal metros. Housing costs run 40 to 50 percent less than comparable San Francisco or New York neighborhoods, meaning salaries that felt barely sufficient suddenly enable comfortable living with actual savings for retirement or children’s education.

Florida: No Income Tax Meets Year-Round Warmth

Florida attracts over 25,000 new residents annually through straightforward appeal that resonates across age groups and life stages. Young professionals appreciate no state income tax combined with tech job growth in Miami and Orlando, while families find affordable housing compared to northeastern alternatives plus year-round outdoor recreation without harsh winters consuming utility budgets. Retirees specifically favor Florida because investment income and pensions remain untaxed while warm climate reduces heating costs and extends active outdoor seasons that harsh northern winters cut short

The psychological impact of year-round sunshine matters more than statistics can capture. Someone spending 30 years experiencing brutal winters suddenly living where they can walk outside in January without extreme cold represents genuine quality of life improvement beyond what spreadsheets show.

The combination of no income tax plus warm weather plus affordable housing creates almost irresistible appeal for people with flexibility to relocate, whether they’re seeking fresh starts, retirement changes, or simply better living conditions.

North Carolina: Research Triangle Tech Plus Affordable Living

North Carolina attracts serious inbound migration through the Research Triangle anchoring Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, creating genuine technology and biotech job opportunities that rival major coastal tech hubs without matching impossible cost of living. Charlotte functions as America’s second-largest banking hub, attracting finance professionals with comparable salaries to New York and Boston but dramatically lower housing costs and better lifestyle access. The state combines moderate climate removing extreme weather concerns, highly rated schools drawing families, and growing cultural scenes in major cities preventing that isolated small-town feeling. Read more about the Best Places to Live in North Carolina.

What North Carolina offers relocators is genuine balance between career opportunity and quality of life that coastal alternatives force you to sacrifice. You can achieve homeownership on professional salaries, find excellent schools for your children, and enjoy active outdoor recreation plus vibrant urban culture without choosing between components of a satisfying life. The state’s thoughtful growth keeps communities feeling intentional rather than sprawling, creating environments where people build genuine roots rather than treating relocation as temporary landing spot.

Tennessee: Music City Vibrancy Plus No Income Tax

Tennessee attracts relocators through Nashville’s status as genuine music industry hub offering career opportunities beyond just tourism, combined with zero state income tax creating financial incentive matching Texas and Florida. The state’s central US location makes it convenient for people who travel frequently while warm enough climate that brutal northern winters feel like distant memory rather than annual reality. Diverse employment across music, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing creates opportunities extending well beyond any single industry, allowing people across professional fields to find meaningful work.

Nashville specifically appeals to creative professionals and entrepreneurs because the city combines genuine industry presence with lower costs than comparable creative hubs like New York or Los Angeles. People can actually afford to live while building careers in fields often inaccessible from financial standpoint in expensive coastal metros where rents consume income leaving nothing for investment in creative pursuits or business development.

South Carolina: Coastal Living Without Coastal Prices

South Carolina provides coastal living appeal through Charleston and Myrtle Beach with housing costs that run 50 to 60 percent less than comparable Atlantic coast locations, allowing people to achieve beach proximity that would be impossible in expensive northeastern coastal markets. Charleston offers historic charm, cobblestone streets, thriving restaurant and cultural scene, and genuine appeal as legitimate small city rather than just tourist destination. Greenville in the upstate provides mountain proximity, vibrant downtown culture, and comparable affordability with different appeal for people wanting less touristy environments.

What South Carolina delivers is coastal lifestyle access for middle-class families who could never afford equivalent property in Maine, Massachusetts, or other northeastern coastal states. The combination of genuine coastal towns with affordability creates appeal extending beyond just retirees toward young families seeking beach living without spending fortunes on property.

Georgia: Atlanta’s Diverse Economy Plus Growth

Georgia particularly through greater Atlanta metro attracts relocators through diverse employment spanning technology, film production, finance, healthcare, and logistics creating opportunities for professionals across virtually every field. The state’s quality schools, vibrant cultural scenes, and top-ranked universities create communities attracting educated professionals and families seeking good education without relocating to the most expensive states. Atlanta functions as genuine economic hub rather than just tourist destination, meaning people relocate for actual career opportunity rather than hope of eventually finding work.

Savannah represents different Georgia appeal through historic coastal charm, smaller city feel, and growing remote work communities allowing people to maintain outside employment while enjoying small-town character. The state’s diversity means different Georgia locations appeal to different people, from urban professionals seeking metropolitan energy to remote workers wanting small-city charm with adequate infrastructure.

Oregon: The Surprise 2025 Winner With Outdoor Lifestyle Appeal

Oregon shocked relocation analysts by jumping from 8th place in 2024 to top inbound destination in 2025 with 65 percent net migration ratio according to United Van Lines, driven by perfect combination of tech and healthcare jobs, Pacific Northwest outdoor lifestyle, and no state income tax. Portland and surrounding areas attract tech professionals migrating from expensive Silicon Valley, and smaller cities throughout Oregon appeal to people seeking outdoor recreation combined with remote work flexibility allowing maintained employment while enjoying mountain and forest access impossible from urban centers.

Oregon’s surprise rise reveals that lifestyle factors matter enormously alongside financial calculations. The state offers something genuinely different from warm-weather migration destinations, attracting people specifically seeking outdoor recreation, natural beauty, and lifestyle engagement that outdoor recreation provides. For some relocators, having mountains and forests accessible trumps warm weather year-round, and Oregon’s emergence as top destination proves that diverse preferences drive relocation decisions beyond just following Texas and Florida.

Idaho, Arkansas, Delaware, and Emerging Destinations

Idaho continues attracting relocators through outdoor lifestyle combining mountain access, hiking, skiing, and outdoor recreation with tech job growth in Boise creating employment hub while housing remains more affordable than coastal alternatives. Arkansas offers lowest living costs among gaining destinations with Bentonville functioning as emerging employment hub through Walmart headquarters and growing tech community. Delaware provides middle ground between affordable living and northeastern proximity for remote workers maintaining metropolitan employment while enjoying lower costs. Minnesota attracts people through cultural amenities, strong job markets, and quality of life despite winter weather.

These secondary destinations reveal that relocation motivations extend beyond just following top destinations. Some people prioritize outdoor access above all else, others seek specific community character or cultural amenities, while many simply want affordable living in locations matching their industry specialization. The diversity of gaining destinations shows that America offers multiple paths to relocation success depending on what matters most to your specific situation.

What Makes These States Actually Work For Relocators

The states attracting most people share consistent characteristics that transcend geographic location or regional differences. Affordable housing relative to regional salaries enables homeownership for people who couldn’t achieve it in coastal alternatives. Growing job markets spanning multiple industries create opportunities for people across professional fields rather than forcing relocation to single-industry dependent locations. Favorable tax structures through either no income tax or significantly lower rates than coastal states create financial advantage that compounds over years into genuine wealth building. Quality of life factors whether through warm weather, outdoor recreation access, or vibrant cultural scenes provide lifestyle satisfaction that purely financial calculations cannot capture.

Remote work fundamentally transformed relocation by removing geographic constraint anchoring people to expensive high-opportunity cities. Someone working entirely remotely for a San Francisco tech company can maintain that salary while living in Austin or Denver or Portland with dramatically lower costs and different quality of life. This shift explains why secondary and mid-sized metros are gaining population at higher rates than historical patterns would predict, as remote work enables choosing location based on lifestyle and affordability rather than employment necessity.

Housing affordability crisis in coastal metros created economic necessity pushing millions toward more affordable alternatives. Families unable to achieve homeownership where they currently live can purchase houses in gaining states on comparable or often lower incomes than their coastal salaries. This combination of housing access plus remote work flexibility plus tax advantages creates comprehensive relocation incentive that extends far beyond just seeking lower costs.

Different People Move For Different Reasons And That’s Okay

United Van Lines data reveals that top reasons for relocation include proximity to family at 29 percent, new jobs or company transfers at 26 percent, and retirement lifestyle changes at 21 percent. This shows that migration decisions involve far more than just financial optimization about taxes and housing, though those factors certainly matter for overall relocation success. Someone relocating to be near aging parents has different priorities than young professional chasing career opportunity or retiree seeking lifestyle change, and these different motivations lead to different destination choices even within gaining states.

The gaining states work for diverse relocation motivations because they offer multiple appeal factors beyond just single advantage. Texas offers career opportunity plus affordability plus no income tax plus warm-enough climate. Florida offers retirement lifestyle plus tax advantage plus warm weather. North Carolina offers job opportunity plus affordable living plus family-friendly schools. This multifaceted appeal means people with different reasons for moving can all find what they’re seeking in the same destinations.

What matters for your relocation is understanding your own priorities rather than assuming top-ranked destinations automatically suit your situation. If proximity to family matters most, you might lean toward destinations closer to where they live. If career opportunity matters most, you might prioritize destinations with your industry presence. If lifestyle matters most, you might focus on climate or outdoor access or cultural amenities. Your specific circumstances shape which gaining states actually offer what you’re looking for rather than following trends everyone else embraces.

If You’re Thinking About Moving To One Of These Destinations

Visiting potential destinations multiple times across different seasons helps you see what living there actually feels like instead of basing everything on a single trip or what you read online. North Carolina and Tennessee feel completely different in winter versus summer, Oregon and Colorado have weather patterns worth experiencing firsthand, Florida’s humidity can surprise people from northern climates, and Texas sprawl makes sense once you spend time there understanding driving distances. Multiple visits show you actual living experience rather than vacation impressions that don’t capture what day-to-day life really involves.

Looking at specific neighborhoods and communities matters more than just knowing the state level migration data, since you’ll actually live in specific neighborhoods where character varies dramatically from one block to the next. Some Texas cities feel sprawling and car-dependent while others offer walkable neighborhoods. North Carolina’s Research Triangle feels nothing like rural mountain communities. Florida beach towns have completely different vibes than inland cities. Getting neighborhood-specific information helps you understand where you might actually want to live rather than just seeing state-level statistics.

Your specific industry presence in your destination is worth thinking through since job opportunities vary depending on what you do professionally. Tech professionals find Austin, Dallas, Portland, and Research Triangle particularly appealing. Finance professionals discover opportunity in Charlotte, Dallas, and Atlanta. Healthcare workers discover positions throughout gaining states. Remote workers get flexibility to choose based purely on lifestyle and cost. Understanding how your industry looks in your destination helps you think realistically about career prospects beyond just knowing jobs exist somewhere.

Connecting with people who already relocated to your destination gives you honest perspective about actual living experience versus what marketing materials promise. Many gaining states have active transplant communities and online forums where recent arrivals share what they genuinely love, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently next time. These peer perspectives often feel more valuable than real estate marketing or general relocation articles because they come from actual lived experience.

Your Next Steps Toward Relocation

If you’ve decided that one of these gaining states matches your priorities and situation, the relocation process itself benefits from professional coordination to succeed smoothly. Moving logistics matter more than people realize, from choosing professional movers experienced with long-distance relocation to timing your move strategically around employment transitions and school calendars. Coordination of housing transitions, utility setup, insurance changes, and address updates involves dozens of details that can overwhelm people attempting moves during already-stressful life transitions.

Our relocation specialists work with thousands of people relocating to these gaining states annually, understanding what matters to your specific situation and coordinating moves toward destinations where you’ll thrive rather than just achieving lower costs. We handle logistics, timing coordination, and execution details so your transition becomes smooth and successful rather than chaotic and overwhelming during already-stressful life change.

Call (334) 659-1878 if you’d like to explore relocation options. We can discuss your priorities, explore which gaining states might match your situation, answer questions about specific destinations, help you think through neighborhood options, and coordinate professional moving services if you decide to move.

Common Questions About Moving To The Gaining States

Which state is the absolute best for relocating right now?

No single best state exists because different people have different priorities. Texas offers tech jobs plus no income tax. Florida offers retirement lifestyle plus warm weather. North Carolina offers career opportunity plus affordability. Your specific situation determines which state might actually work best for your circumstances.

How much money can I actually save relocating to a no-income-tax state?

Someone earning $100,000 annually saves roughly $10,000 yearly moving from California or New York to Texas or Florida through zero state income tax, plus additional savings through lower housing costs that create dramatic long-term wealth building opportunity.

Will I find good job opportunities in these gaining states?

Likely yes. Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee all have strong employment markets across multiple industries plus substantial remote work communities. Your specific industry determines opportunity levels within specific states, so understanding your field’s presence matters.

Is remote work really necessary for relocation to make financial sense?

No. These states have strong local job markets creating opportunities within their economies. Remote work simply adds flexibility by allowing maintained metropolitan-area employment while relocating, but local employment frequently offers opportunities, career growth, and competitive salaries.

How do I know if a specific neighborhood is right for my situation?

Visiting multiple times across different seasons, talking to residents about their experience, researching specific schools if you have children, understanding neighborhood character beyond marketing materials, and verifying your industry has presence in your destination all help you feel confident about your choice.

Can I visit potential destinations before permanently relocating?

Yes. Visiting multiple times across different seasons shows you what living there actually involves rather than just vacation impressions. Many people rent initially for 6 to 12 months before purchasing property, allowing time to ensure neighborhoods and communities truly match what they imagined.

Will my professional credentials transfer between states?

This varies by profession. Some licenses require state-specific certification while others transfer across states. Researching your specific profession’s requirements before committing to relocation helps you avoid discovering barriers after moving.

How much does it cost to move to another state?

Professional long-distance moving typically costs $5,000 to $15,000 depending on inventory volume, distance, and service level. Many people find these moving costs recover through tax savings and lower living expenses within the first year of relocation.

Should I buy property immediately or rent first in my new state?

Renting for 6 to 12 months allows you to explore neighborhoods, test whether your destination truly matches expectations, and avoid property commitments until you genuinely understand your new community and neighborhood fit.

References and Sources

1. Global Mobility Solutions – Where Are People Moving Most in the U.S. in 2026
2. Sherpa Auto Transport – Where People Are Moving To and From in 2026
3. Realtor.com – United Van Lines Moving Study 2025 Data
4. Axios – Where People Moved To and From in 2025
5. Consumer Affairs – Migration Trends: States People Are Moving To in 2026