8 States Americans Are Desperately Trying to Escape, According to New Moving Data
Across the country, families are packing boxes, forwarding mail and leaving familiar neighborhoods behind. Some are chasing better jobs. Others want cheaper housing, warmer weather, lower expenses or a home closer to relatives.
The latest migration reports do not show that every resident is abandoning these states. However, they reveal strong outbound pressure in several parts of the Northeast, West and Midwest.
United Van Lines found that 29% of its interstate customers moved to be closer to family, while 26% relocated for a new job or company transfer. Retirement accounted for another 14%. The company also identified a broader movement toward smaller cities and communities where housing may feel more manageable.
U-Haul’s separate index, based on more than 2.5 million one-way transactions, painted a similar picture at the bottom of its rankings. California finished last for the sixth consecutive year, while Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Illinois also landed among the five weakest states for net one-way customer growth.
Here are eight states facing some of America’s strongest outbound moving signals.
New Jersey
New Jersey once again sits at the center of America’s outbound migration story. United Van Lines reported that 62% of its New Jersey moves in 2025 were outbound, placing the state at the top of its departure list for the eighth consecutive year. New Jersey has remained among the company’s 10 most outbound states for more than 15 years.
The state continues to offer access to major employment markets, strong schools and proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. Those advantages still attract younger professionals. In fact, roughly 21% of United’s inbound New Jersey customers were between 18 and 34.
Yet the state also loses older residents searching for a more affordable retirement, a warmer climate or a slower pace. Previous United data showed retirement and proximity to family among the leading reasons customers left New Jersey.
The result is a strange demographic revolving door. Young workers arrive to launch careers, while established homeowners and retirees cash out and head elsewhere.
California
California may offer beaches, mountains, technology jobs and global cultural influence, but its outbound moving numbers remain difficult to ignore.
U-Haul ranked California last in its 2025 Growth Index, marking the sixth straight year that the state recorded the largest net loss of one-way customers. United Van Lines also placed California third on its outbound list, with 58% of the company’s moves involving customers leaving the state.
For many households, California’s opportunities come with a painful price tag. Housing expenses can turn homeownership into a distant goal, particularly in coastal metropolitan areas. Insurance pressures, long commutes and daily living costs can also make life feel increasingly fragile.
California still attracts entrepreneurs, students, entertainers and highly paid professionals. It is not becoming empty. However, the people leaving frequently appear to be searching for something California struggles to provide: more space without an overwhelming monthly payment. For residents who can carry a California salary into a cheaper state, the financial difference can be life-changing.
New York
New York remains one of America’s most powerful economic and cultural centers, but power does not automatically translate into population loyalty. United Van Lines recorded a 58% outbound share for New York in 2025, tying it with California among the three most outbound states in the study. U-Haul also placed New York among its bottom five states for customer growth.
New York City’s housing costs receive much of the attention, but the migration story extends beyond Manhattan. Families throughout the state must balance property taxes, winter expenses, job opportunities and the cost of remaining near major urban centers.
Remote and hybrid work have changed that calculation. A worker who once needed to commute into a Manhattan office five days a week may now be able to live in another state and return only when necessary.
New York continues to gain residents through international migration. The Census Bureau estimated that the state received nearly 96,000 net international migrants between July 2024 and June 2025. That arrival stream can partly conceal the number of existing residents moving elsewhere in the country.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts offers prestigious universities, major hospitals, biotechnology companies, and some of the highest-skilled employment opportunities in the nation. It also appears repeatedly near the bottom of moving indexes.
Massachusetts made United Van Lines’ 2025 outbound list and finished among U-Haul’s bottom five growth states. The pattern suggests that even a strong economy can struggle to retain households when housing and everyday costs rise faster than residents believe their quality of life is improving.
Boston and its surrounding communities can be especially challenging for renters and first-time buyers. Families may earn impressive salaries yet still find themselves competing for limited housing at intimidating prices.
The state remains attractive to younger adults pursuing education and specialized careers. United’s age analysis placed Massachusetts among the leading inbound destinations for movers aged 18 to 34. That creates another revolving door. Students and ambitious professionals arrive for opportunity, while older or established residents leave in search of affordability and breathing room.
Illinois
Illinois presents one of the most complicated stories on this list. U-Haul placed Illinois among the five weakest states for net one-way customer growth in 2025. However, United Van Lines classified it as balanced, meaning its inbound and outbound shares were relatively close. It was the first time in more than a decade that Illinois did not appear on United’s top outbound list.
That disagreement matters. U-Haul largely reflects do-it-yourself moves, while United tracks customers using its professional moving network. Different income groups, household sizes and relocation types can produce different results.
Chicago remains a major magnet for careers, education, entertainment and transportation. Outside the city, Illinois offers more affordable communities and access to established infrastructure.
Still, the state has spent years battling an image of high taxes, population loss and residents heading toward warmer destinations. The 2025 figures suggest the situation may be stabilizing, but Illinois has not completely escaped the outbound conversation.
North Dakota
North Dakota may seem like an unexpected addition. It has relatively affordable housing, low unemployment during strong energy cycles, and communities known for open space. Yet United Van Lines ranked it fourth among the most outbound states of 2025.
North Dakota’s challenges differ sharply from those facing California or New Jersey. Unaffordable coastal megacities do not dominate the state. Instead, residents may face limited career options outside certain industries, harsh winters, geographic isolation and the difficulty of remaining close to family members who live elsewhere.
The moving picture is not entirely negative. United’s age breakdown showed North Dakota performing strongly among inbound customers aged 18 to 34, suggesting younger workers may still arrive for jobs, education or early-career opportunities. However, attracting young workers and retaining households for decades are different challenges. North Dakota must convince newcomers that it is not simply a temporary stop.
Colorado
For years, Colorado represented the ideal relocation destination. It offered booming cities, outdoor recreation, growing technology industries and a lifestyle that appeared more relaxed than coastal America.
That popularity brought consequences. United Van Lines ranked Colorado fifth among its most outbound states in 2025. The finding suggests that some residents may now feel squeezed by the same forces created by years of rapid growth.
Housing costs climbed across Denver and many mountain communities. Congestion increased. Formerly affordable cities became harder for teachers, service workers, young families and retirees to navigate financially.
Colorado has not lost its natural beauty or economic appeal. People will continue moving there. However, the bargain that once made the state irresistible has changed. When residents must pay premium prices while dealing with traffic, wildfire concerns and crowded recreation areas, another state can begin to look surprisingly attractive.
Mississippi
Mississippi’s appearance shows why migration reports must be interpreted carefully. United Van Lines placed Mississippi sixth among its top outbound states for 2025. However, U-Haul reported that Mississippi climbed 18 positions in its separate index, one of the biggest year-over-year improvements in the country.
Both findings can be true. United and U-Haul serve different customers, measure different types of moves and rank states using different formulas.
Mississippi offers low housing costs and a slower pace of life, but affordability alone does not guarantee that residents will remain. Job availability, wages, health care access, education and proximity to family can outweigh the price of a home.
The state may be attracting more budget-conscious do-it-yourself movers while simultaneously losing households using full-service relocation companies. That split could reveal differences between who is arriving and who is leaving.
America’s Moving Map Is Being Rewritten
The United States is not experiencing one simple migration wave. Americans are moving for overlapping reasons that include family, employment, retirement, housing and lifestyle.
Even the traditional winners are changing. United Van Lines found that Texas and Florida, once dominant inbound destinations, became balanced states in 2025 as rising housing and insurance costs complicated their appeal. Meanwhile, Oregon, West Virginia and South Carolina led United’s inbound rankings.
The Census Bureau also cautions against treating moving-company rankings as complete population counts. International migration, births and deaths can allow a state to grow even while it loses residents to other states. Between July 2024 and July 2025, only California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia experienced an overall population decline.
Still, moving trucks send a powerful message. When thousands of households repeatedly choose the exit, state leaders cannot dismiss the pattern as coincidence. People are not merely fleeing cold weather or chasing sunshine. They are searching for a place where their paycheck stretches further, their family feels closer, and the future appears easier to afford.
