Oregon, West Virginia Lead Inbound Migration
After years of moves driven by career changes, more Americans are now packing up to be closer to family. That?s one of the biggest takeaways from the 49th annual National Movers Study by United Van Lines, which found that family ties, lifestyle preferences and smaller-town living are reshaping migration trends across the U.S.
According to United Van Lines, 29.13% of movers in 2025 relocated to be closer to family, up from 28.83% in 2020. Meanwhile, job-related moves?once the top motivator?dropped sharply from 37.03% in 2020 to 25.92% last year. Retirement and lifestyle changes made up13.86% and 9.54% of moves, respectively, continuing their downward trend since 2020.
The report?s data, based on household moves handled by the UniGroup network?the parent company of United Van Lines?tracks interstate migration within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. The study uses three categories to describe state-level movement: ?high inbound? for states with at least 55% of moves coming in, ?high outbound? for states with at least 55% of moves going out, and ?balanced? for states with minimal difference between the two.
In 2025, Oregon led the nation with 65.50% inbound moves, followed by West Virginia (62.12%), South Carolina (60.80%), Delaware (59.65%), Minnesota (58.16%), Idaho (57.80%), North Carolina (57.77%), Arkansas (57.25%), Alabama (57.10%) and Nevada (57.00%).
Only seven states qualified as ?high outbound,? with New Jersey (62.33% outbound) topping the list. Others included New York (57.84%), California (57.81%), North Dakota (56.63%), Colorado (54.98%), Mississippi (54.91%) and Massachusetts (54.67%).
At the metro level, migration patterns further reflected the shift toward smaller markets. The top inbound areas were Eugene-Springfield, Oregon (85% inbound); Wilmington, North Carolina (83%) and Dover, Delaware (79%). Rounding out the top 10 were Fort Wayne, Indiana (73%); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (72%); Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas (72%); Salem, Oregon (70%); Springfield, Missouri (69%); Hickory, North Carolina (68%) and Lake Charles, Louisiana (68%).
Conversely, the top outbound areas were Hagerstown, Maryland (88%); Nassau?Suffolk, New York (78%); Pueblo, Colorado (74%); Bergen?Passaic, New Jersey (73%); Springfield, Illinois (68%); Newark, New Jersey (67%); Lafayette?West Lafayette, Indiana (66%); San Diego, California (65%); Rapid City, South Dakota (65%) and Tallahassee, Florida (65%).
United Van Lines? findings suggest that post-pandemic migration continues to favor affordability, family proximity and lifestyle priorities?trends that could influence where future housing demand and CRE development take shape.
Source: GlobeSt/ALM