New York has earned its worst migration ranking in a decade, placing 47th out of 50 states, according to U-Haul’s latest migration report.
The company tracks net gains and losses of one-way movers using its equipment across all 50 states and parts of Canada. This data is collected annually, based on 2.5 million one-way moves using U-Haul trucks and trailers.
For every person moving to New York, approximately one and a half are leaving. However, Christopher Thomas, a real estate broker at New2U Homes, believes the numbers don’t paint the full picture.
“My first thought is that they lumped us all together. New York is huge. We are Western New York, and we talk about New York City — those are different locations, so to put us all in one pool is kind of interesting,” Thomas said.
Thomas highlights the unique lifestyle New York offers, emphasizing affordable housing, short commutes, and year-round events.
“Across the state, the valuations are different. As compared to the country, we’re still something like $100,000 behind on our average property price, so people can come here and live affordably and still have all the amenities of being in a metropolis,” he added.
Not everyone shares that optimism.
Leonard Brock, who relocated to North Carolina in 2020, a state ranked third on U-Haul’s list, cited career opportunities as a major factor in his decision.
“I was leading a high-profile effort in Rochester, the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, and I felt like I hit a ceiling. I was at an inflection point where I wanted to have a greater impact. I landed the national job and I could live anywhere on the East Coast,” said Brock, now a national vice president at CF Leads.
Weather also played a role in his move. Brock noted that seasonal depression can be challenging for many in Rochester.
“I wake up most days happy because of the weather, because of the sunlight, and because of the ability to get outside, too. You know, whereas in Rochester, you probably can get out, let’s say, a good six months out of the year,” Brock explained.
Despite migration trends suggesting challenges, Thomas maintains that New York remains a great place to live.
“It was eye-opening to see that, you know, some of the places that you would think would be more popular are actually losing people. Like, California, they were at the bottom of the list. I still equate that to being similar to the rest of New York,” he added.
As of 2024, South Carolina holds the top spot as the state most people are moving to. Whether it’s the weather, affordability, or job opportunities, people’s reasons for relocating continue to shape migration trends nationwide.
