Migration Nation

A look at where Americans are going

Each year, United Van Lines, the country’s largest mover of household goods, sends out a report on Americans’ migration patterns. The company has tracked shipment patterns on a state-by-state basis since 1977 to see where its customers moved from and the most popular destinations. The numbers for 2006 are based on the 227,254 interstate household moves handled by United among the 48 contiguous states plus Washington, D.C.

Each state is classified in one of three categories: high inbound (55% or more of moves going into a state); high outbound (55% or more of moves coming out of a state); or balanced. Although the majority of states were in the “balanced” category last year, there were substantial population shifts to be reported.

According to Carl Walter, vice president of United Van Lines, the United study through the years has been shown to accurately reflect the general migration patterns in various regions of the country. Real estate firms, financial institutions and other observers of relocation trends regularly use these data in their business planning and analysis activities.

Although all of the New England states were in the “balanced” category, Vermont was the only one of the six to experience more inbound (53.3%) than outbound (46.7%) shipments. Massachusetts had the highest outbound percentage in New England at 54.1 but Connecticut (52.4) saw its fourth successive year of out-migration.

New York, which has been an outbound state since the survey was established, experienced 59.5% outbound.

The Southeastern states saw an influx last year, with North Carolina coming in as the top destination (64% inbound). South Carolina (60.6%) continued its 13-year inbound tradition, while Alabama (57.5%) experienced its fourth year as a high-inbound location. Although Tennessee saw fewer people move in last year (55.8% in 2006; 58% in 2005),  it still captured a spot on the high-inbound list. 

Other Southeast states also greeted new residents, although not enough to be considered high inbound. Kentucky (52.9%) continued a five-year inbound trend, Georgia (53.9%) continued its 25-year trend as an inbound state; and Mississippi (50.1%) boasted a 3.2% increase in moves to its state compared to 2005.

The West emerged as a top migration spot. Capturing the Number Two inbound ranking was Oregon (62.5%), sustaining its 19-year, high-inbound trend. Although still a high-inbound state, Arizona (55.4%) saw roughly 5% fewer people move in than in 2005. Nevada (59.9%), however, continued its streak of being high inbound since 1986.

New Mexico (57.9% inbound; a 3.7% increase) and Utah (56%; nearly 6% increase) saw upswings in incoming residents. Idaho’s high-inbound ranking (59.3%) has held steady for 19 years, and Montana retained its five-year inbound status at 55%. Even “balanced” Western states such as Colorado and Wyoming scored in the inbound category.

Rounding out the high-inbound list were Washington, D.C. (57.9%), which has remained inbound since the first year of the study, and South Dakota (55.9%), its first high-inbound year since 1994. 

Nebraska had 52.5% inbound, after being outbound in 2005, and this year marked the first time in 25 years that Minnesota (51.3%) saw more people entering than leaving.

Ranked Number Two on the high-outbound list for 2005, Michigan (66%), moved up (or down, depending on one’s perception) to tie for the top outbound state of 2006 with North Dakota. Completing the list of high-outbound states were New York, New Jersey (60.9%, outbound since 1997), Indiana (58.2%, high outbound since 1993); Louisiana (56.4%, continuing a two-year trend); and Illinois (55.7%, high outbound since the survey’s inception).

The only other thing we’d like to see is information on migration to and from Hawaii and Alaska. Someday, maybe.

For a complete list of states go to  United’s Web site, www.unitedvanlines.com. •

Compiled from data supplied by United Van Lines.