New U-Haul migration data places Texas back at No. 1 for population growth in 2025, underscoring a continued shift toward Southern and Republican-led states.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Texas has reclaimed its position as the nation’s fastest-growing state for 2025, according to newly released migration data from U-Haul, reinforcing a broader trend of population movement toward the South and away from several traditionally Democratic-led states.
The Jan. 5 U-Haul Growth Index ranked Texas first for the seventh time in the past decade, overtaking South Carolina, which fell four spots after leading the nation in 2024. Florida ranked second, followed by North Carolina and Tennessee, while Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Alabama, and Georgia rounded out the top 10.
The report found that nearly 51 percent of all one-way U-Haul traffic involving Texas in 2025 consisted of inbound moves. Compared with the prior year, arrivals increased by 3 percent, while departures rose just 1 percent. Texas previously held the top growth ranking from 2016 through 2018 and again from 2021 through 2023.
Florida showed similar patterns, with inbound moves also accounting for about 51 percent of its one-way traffic. New arrivals to the state rose 2 percent year over year, while outbound moves increased by only 1 percent.
At the opposite end of the rankings, California finished last for the sixth consecutive year, posting the highest level of net out-migration despite a slightly smaller loss than in 2024. Other states ranking among the bottom five for growth included New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois. Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, and Michigan completed the bottom 10.
The report noted that migration patterns increasingly align with political leadership. Seven of the top 10 growth states are currently led by Republican governors, and nine voted Republican in the most recent presidential election. In contrast, nine of the bottom 10 growth states are governed by Democrats, seven of which voted Democratic in the last election.
“Blue-to-red state migration, a hotly debated political topic that became more pronounced after the pandemic of 2020, continues to be a discernible trend,” the report stated.
U-Haul’s Growth Index is based on more than 2.5 million annual one-way truck, trailer, and U-Box container rentals across the United States and Canada, measuring net gains and losses as customers pick up equipment in one state and return it in another.
In year-over-year comparisons, Oregon posted the largest improvement, jumping to No. 11 in 2025 after ranking 34th as a net-loss state the previous year. Other states showing population gains included Mississippi, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Montana.
Ohio recorded the steepest decline, dropping 29 spots to No. 43. Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Delaware, and Nebraska also experienced notable downward shifts.
John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul International’s president, said most moves are driven by life events such as marriage, employment changes, education, or family needs, but added that broader lifestyle considerations also matter.
“In-migration states are often appealing to those customers,” Taylor said, noting that climate plays a significant role. Eight of the top 10 growth states are located in warmer regions.
Founded in 1945, U-Haul operates more than 24,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces and is one of the largest providers of do-it-yourself moving services in North America.
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