Here’s where Alabama’s newest residents are coming from

If you’ve noticed more out-of-state license plates around Alabama lately, you’re not imagining things. According to a report from Stacker, thousands of people moved to Alabama from across the country in 2022 — and most of them came from just a handful of states.

Using U.S. Census Bureau data, Stacker ranked the top 25 states sending the most people to Alabama. Not surprisingly, many of Alabama’s new neighbors came from right next door, but plenty arrived from as far away as California and Hawaii.

Here’s a closer look at the top 25 states sending newcomers to Alabama — and just how many people packed up and headed to the Yellowhammer State.

Top 25 states sending people to Alabama in 2022

Georgia – 23,155 people (16.6% of new arrivals from other states)
Florida – 18,236 (13.1%)
Tennessee – 11,634 (8.4%)
Texas – 10,102 (7.3%)
California – 8,012 (5.8%)
South Carolina – 6,298 (4.5%)
Mississippi – 5,736 (4.1%)
Louisiana – 5,461 (3.9%)
Illinois – 4,328 (3.1%)
New York – 3,827 (2.8%)
Virginia – 3,654 (2.6%)
Pennsylvania – 3,330 (2.4%)
Colorado – 3,329 (2.4%)
North Carolina – 3,320 (2.4%)
Kentucky – 2,892 (2.1%)
Ohio – 2,223 (1.6%)
Indiana – 1,693 (1.2%)
Washington – 1,639 (1.2%)
Arkansas – 1,536 (1.1%)
Maryland – 1,517 (1.1%)
Missouri – 1,421 (1.0%)
Kansas – 1,403 (1.0%)
Hawaii – 1,256 (0.9%)
New Jersey – 1,207 (0.9%)
Arizona – 1,202 (0.9%)

Most of Alabama’s newest residents came from nearby states, led by Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. Together, those three states accounted for more than 53,000 new Alabamians. That’s likely due to the ease of moving close to home, plus Alabama’s relatively affordable housing and strong ties to neighboring states.

But Alabama is also drawing people from farther away — thousands came from places like California, New York, and Illinois. Those states have seen significant out-migration in recent years, often driven by higher costs of living, dense urban areas, and a search for more space.

States with large military or government workforces, like Virginia, Maryland, and Hawaii, also showed up in the rankings, possibly reflecting moves related to Alabama’s defense and federal job opportunities.

These migration trends are part of a bigger picture Stacker highlighted in its analysis: the South continues to gain residents, while the Northeast and parts of the Midwest see more people leaving. As Alabama keeps welcoming new neighbors from all over the map, it’s clear the state remains an appealing choice for people looking for a fresh start.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].