Texas and Florida are the fastest-growing states in the nation if one-way equipment rentals from U-Haul are any indication.

The company measured growth according to each state’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment rental transactions in a single calendar year. Transactions included one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box moving container transactions that occur annually across the United States and Canada.

“While one-way transactions in 2023 remained below the record-breaking levels we witnessed immediately following the pandemic, we continued to see many of the same geographical trends from U-Haul customers moving between states,” U-Haul International President John “J.T.” Taylor stated.

“Migration to states in the Southeast and Southwest is still very pronounced. Demand for one-way equipment out of certain markets in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast mirrors what we have seen during recent moving cycles,” he added.

Texas ranked first on the U-Haul Growth Index for the third consecutive year. Florida came in second for the third consecutive year, followed by North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Colorado and Virginia in the top 10 fastest growing states.

At the other end, data show that California had the largest net loss of one-way movers in the country for the fourth year in a row. Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York also fared poorly for growth.

Florida cities top destinations for fresh starts

The Sunshine State may be second as far as fastest-growing states, but its cities remain popular destinations, according to U-Haul.

Seven Florida markets ranked among the top 25 growth cities in 2023, the company said. 

This is the seventh year in a row that Florida has had the most cities represented by U-Haul’s ranking.

The Palm Bay-Melbourne area of the state  is especially popular for Americans looking to relocate, with 54.7% of all one-way U-Haul traffic flowing into the area last year, compared to just 45.3% departing. Ocala, FL, was the top growth spot in 2022, falling to second in the latest rankings. 

“Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate,” U-Haul Company of Eastern Florida President Cal Conner stated. 

“We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live.”