Where Americans choose to live can shape daily routines, commutes, housing options, and access to care. In 2025, one moving-company dataset points to a pattern that many households recognize in practical terms: relocations that trade major, high-cost metros for smaller places where paychecks and lifestyles can stretch differently.
One detail stands out. Domestic moving is occurring in a period when overall geographic mobility remains far lower than it was during the pandemic’s peak.
At the same time, the motivations behind moves show a blend of family ties, work changes, and retirement planning. United Van Lines’ survey found that movers cited being closer to family (29%), company transfer/new job (26%), and retirement (14%) among key reasons.
1. Oregon
Oregon led the inbound list in United Van Lines’ 49th Annual National Movers Study, with 65% inbound moves. A notable share of movers said they came for work, with 36% relocating for a job, linked to growth in tech and health care. At the metro level, Eugene-Springfield posted 85% inbound, illustrating how smaller-to-mid-size areas can outperform bigger hubs in attracting new households.
2. West Virginia
West Virginia ranked near the top for inbound migration in the same study, reaching 62% inbound moves. Its position aligns with the broader shift toward smaller cities and towns, where housing and day-to-day costs can be more manageable for households trying to balance work, caregiving, and long-term financial stability.
3. South Carolina
South Carolina was another leading destination at 61% inbound moves. The study framed this as part of an ongoing North/Midwest-to-South flow that continues even as national mobility remains subdued compared with earlier pandemic years.
4. Delaware
Delaware appeared on the top inbound list, and its Dover metro was among the strongest destination areas, with 79% inbound. The metro finding reinforces that, for many movers, the “where” is less about the biggest job centers and more about an everyday fit that includes housing availability and pace of life.
5. Minnesota
Minnesota made the inbound top ten, one of the states newly appearing there in 2025. Its presence complicates any single “sun belt only” story and suggests households are weighing multiple factors at once, including family networks and specific employment opportunities.
6. Idaho
Idaho also landed in the inbound top ten, another state newly included in 2025. Its ranking sits alongside Oregon’s strong performance, pointing to continued interest in parts of the West where smaller metros can serve as alternatives to the region’s highest-cost markets.
7. North Carolina
North Carolina remained a draw in the inbound list, and Wilmington was cited among top destination metros at 83% inbound. For wellbeing-minded households, metro-level shifts like this often translate into changes in commute time, access to outdoor space, and the practicality of staying near extended family.
8. Arkansas
Arkansas was included among the states with high inbound movement. In the study’s framing, the persistence of smaller-town destinations reflects preferences that strengthened during the COVID era and have not fully faded, even as moving rates overall have cooled.
9. Alabama
Alabama rounded out the inbound group and has appeared repeatedly in recent years’ inbound lists. In the survey results, retirement remained a meaningful driver, and the study noted that some states can attract working-age adults while still losing older residents who are adjusting priorities around costs, climate, and proximity to support systems.
10. Nevada
Nevada joined the inbound top ten as a new entry in 2025. Its inclusion underscores that “affordability” is relative: households often compare not just prices, but the full bundle of job access, housing options, and the kinds of daily routines a place makes possible.
Across these states, the strongest common thread is not a single region but a shared orientation toward smaller metros and towns. As Michael A. Stoll, economist and UCLA public policy professor, said in the United Van Lines report: “For most Americans, interstate relocation is no longer a linear calculation, it’s a complex decision balancing multiple competing factors.”
For readers tracking movement with broader datasets, the IRS also maintains year-to-year address changes reported on individual income tax returns, which can offer a different lens on inflows and outflows over time.
