Alabama was identified as the eighth most popular destination for movers in the United States from a company that has a good idea of who’s moving — and where.
For its 47th annual “National Movers Study,” United Van Lines showed a 60% inbound moving rate for Alabama over the past year. The company says many of those making the move relocate in search of a lower overall cost of living.
“We are continuing to see the trend that Americans are moving to more affordable, lower-density areas across the country, with many heading to Southern states,” United Van Lines Vice President of Corporate Communications Eily Cummings said.
“Movers are also becoming more strategic with their planning, as relocation continues to be driven by factors such as the price of housing, regional climates, urban planning and job growth.”
RELATED: U-Haul ranks Alabama 22nd for most movers to a state
Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted a major factor he believes has influenced the current trend of in bound moves.
“The COVID-19 pandemic influenced decisions to move and accelerated existing moving patterns in 2020, mostly driven by the opportunity to work remotely, the desire to be closer to family and better affordability,” said Stoll. “Some Americans may be faced with economic uncertainty, coupled with an increased cost of living and lack of affordable housing. This can result in adjustments to moving timelines or people making interstate moves, rather than across states.”
The states in the country that experienced the most inbound moves in 2023 were:
- Vermont
- Washington, D.C.
- South Carolina
- Arkansas
- Rhode Island
- North Carolina
- South Dakota
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- West Virginia
The top ten list for the year featured two new states, Arkansas and West Virginia. Arkansas moved from #18 on the list in 2022 to #4 in 2023, while West Virginia improved from #13 in 2022 to #10.
The survey also revealed that the top motivations for moves – such as wanting to be closer to family (27%) and retirement (14%) – have declined compared to 2022 as movers consider other important factors related to location preferences, the cost of living and affordable housing.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
