Atlas Van Lines has unveiled its Annual Migration Patterns Study, delving into the relocation trends of its clientele over the past year. Amidst years of notable fluctuations in the economy, housing sector, and job market, Atlas’ study offers valuable insights into interstate, cross-border, and international relocations. With a tradition dating back to 1993, this marks the 30th consecutive year of Atlas publishing its migration patterns study, drawing from internal data to track shifting moving behaviors and preferences.
The findings from Atlas Van Lines align with national trends, showcasing significant inbound migration to thriving housing markets like Maine and New Hampshire, as well as states boasting favorable business environments such as Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. Conversely, numerous affordable states, particularly in the Midwest like Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio, have witnessed substantial outbound moves.
Outlined below are the top 10 states in the US with the highest percentages of inbound and outbound moves in 2023, listed in descending order of inbound and outbound rates respectively. Notably, North Carolina and Maine continue to retain their appeal from the previous year, with New Hampshire experiencing a remarkable ascent from 10th to third place. The rate of outbound moves surged notably in Pennsylvania and Oregon in 2023, while the outbound trend from Indiana appears to have stabilized, albeit remaining prominent.
2023 Top 10 Inbound States:
- Maine
- North Carolina
- New Hampshire
- Montana
- Washington
- Arkansas
- Florida
- New Mexico
- District of Columbia
- Texas
2023 Top 10 Outbound States:
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- New York
- Ohio
Regarding Canadian provinces, data from Atlas Van Lines Canada indicates a notable migration trend from southern provinces to northern ones. Newfoundland, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories emerged as the top three inbound provinces, while Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Alberta were the top three outbound provinces.
Furthermore, Hawaii maintained its status as a sought-after destination, with inbound shipments accounting for 77% of total moves.
Additionally, Atlas World Group International reported significant trends in overseas relocations:
Top 10 Inbound Destinations (Outside of the US):
- Japan
- South Korea
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Bahrain
- Australia
- Canada
- Kuwait
- India
- Jordan
Top 10 Outbound Destinations (Outside of the US):
- Japan
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Germany
- Saudi Arabia
- Puerto Rico
- Greece
- India
- Denmark
- United Kingdom
The determination of a state or province’s status is based on its threshold value, calculated by multiplying the total number of shipments by 0.55. States or provinces with outbound or inbound numbers exceeding the threshold are categorized accordingly, while those falling within the threshold are considered balanced. The study encompasses Canadian interprovincial and cross-border shipments, alongside international moves, reflecting the destinations to which Atlas World Group International dispatched the most shipments from international origin countries in 2023.
