Americans are less likely to move today than at any point in recent history. Over the 12 months ending in March 2019, the share of Americans who moved to a new home dipped below 10% for the first time since the U.S. Census Bureau began keeping track in 1947.
Indeed, in the majority of U.S. metropolitan areas, the greatest driver of population growth is natural increase — the number of births over a given period less the number of deaths. Still, an average of 35 million Americans have moved every year since 2010 — and some destinations are demonstrably more popular than others.
To determine the cities Americans flocking to in every state, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program and identified the metro area with the largest net-migration increase from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 in every state.
Net migration is the difference between the number of new residents — either from other parts of the country or from abroad — and the number of residents who have moved elsewhere. It is not a measure of total population change, which also includes natural growth.
It is important to note that four states — Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont — have only one metropolitan area each. As a result, these cities rank on this list by default. Additionally, in Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey, every metro area reported negative net migration.
Some of the most commonly cited reasons for packing up and moving to a new city are related to employment. Last year, more than one in every five moves were prompted by work-related reasons. In the cities Americans are flocking to, job markets appear generally strong as in most of them, unemployment rates are as low or lower than the 3.6% national unemployment rate. Here is a look at the cities that have added the most jobs in the last five years.
Click here to see the cities Americans are flocking to in every state
Click here to see the cities Americans are abandoning in every state
Source: George Dodd / Getty Images
1. Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +33,655 (+18.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +35,758 (+19.6%)
> 2018 population: 218,022
> Median household income: $56,813
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.4%
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Source: Leieng / Getty Images
2. Alaska: None
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Source: desertsolitaire / Getty Images
3. Arizona: Prescott
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +28,757 (+13.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +20,979 (+9.9%)
> 2018 population: 231,993
> Median household income: $48,148
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.2%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
4. Arkansas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +55,068 (+11.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +85,926 (+18.6%)
> 2018 population: 549,128
> Median household income: $57,911
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.5%
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
5. California: Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +109,665 (+5.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +196,059 (+9.1%)
> 2018 population: 2.3 million
> Median household income: $73,142
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.4%
Source: Bryan Bean / Wikimedia Commons
6. Colorado: Greeley
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +41,180 (+16.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +61,458 (+24.3%)
> 2018 population: 314,305
> Median household income: $75,938
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.4%
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Source: enfi / Getty Images
7. Connecticut: None
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Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
8. Delaware: Dover
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +10,595 (+6.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +16,201 (+10.0%)
> 2018 population: 178,550
> Median household income: $54,419
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.3%
Source: Michael Warren / Getty Images
9. Florida: The Villages
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +43,639 (+46.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +35,334 (+37.8%)
> 2018 population: 128,754
> Median household income: $53,895
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.2%
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. Georgia: Gainesville
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +12,744 (+7.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +22,422 (+12.5%)
> 2018 population: 202,148
> Median household income: $61,699
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.4%
Source: unclegene / Getty Images
11. Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +5,840 (+3.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +12,365 (+8.0%)
> 2018 population: 167,295
> Median household income: $82,917
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
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Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images
12. Idaho: Coeur d’Alene
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +19,111 (+13.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +23,039 (+16.6%)
> 2018 population: 161,505
> Median household income: $55,236
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.5%
Source: dszc / Getty Images
13. Illinois: None
Source: John Schanlaub / Wikimedia Commons
14. Indiana: Lafayette-West Lafayette
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +10,197 (+5.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +20,034 (+9.9%)
> 2018 population: 221,828
> Median household income: $50,799
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.9%
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
15. Iowa: Des Moines-West Des Moines
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +49,051 (+8.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +85,777 (+15.1%)
> 2018 population: 655,409
> Median household income: $71,352
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
Source: BergmannD / Getty Images
16. Kansas: Lawrence
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +5,987 (+5.4%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +10,610 (+9.6%)
> 2018 population: 121,436
> Median household income: $54,668
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.9%
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
17. Kentucky: Bowling Green
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +13,518 (+8.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +18,824 (+11.9%)
> 2018 population: 177,432
> Median household income: $51,365
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.0%
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Source: Z28scrambler / Wikimedia Commons
18. Louisiana: Hammond
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +6,704 (+5.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +12,670 (+10.5%)
> 2018 population: 133,777
> Median household income: $48,205
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.7%
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
19. Maine: Portland-South Portland
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +20,096 (+3.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +21,316 (+4.1%)
> 2018 population: 535,420
> Median household income: $69,980
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.4%
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Source: Eric Fischer / Wikimedia Commons
20. Maryland: Salisbury
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +35,981 (+9.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +36,219 (+9.7%)
> 2018 population: 409,979
> Median household income: $59,214
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.5%
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
21. Massachusetts: Boston-Cambridge-Newton
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +197,049 (+4.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +322,792 (+7.1%)
> 2018 population: 4.9 million
> Median household income: $88,711
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
22. Michigan: Ann Arbor
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +13,480 (+3.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +25,859 (+7.5%)
> 2018 population: 370,963
> Median household income: $71,860
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.7%
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Source: StevenGaertner / Getty Images
23. Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +92,289 (+2.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +280,328 (+8.4%)
> 2018 population: 3.6 million
> Median household income: $79,578
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.0%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
24. Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +16,855 (+4.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +26,474 (+7.1%)
> 2018 population: 397,261
> Median household income: $47,444
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.5%
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Source: Ashley Kluver / Getty Images
25. Missouri: Columbia
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +8,607 (+5.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +17,360 (+10.7%)
> 2018 population: 180,005
> Median household income: $54,356
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.5%
Source: akpakp / Getty Images
26. Montana: Missoula
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +6,448 (+5.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +9,495 (+8.7%)
> 2018 population: 118,791
> Median household income: $56,598
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.1%
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Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
27. Nebraska: Lincoln
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +15,816 (+5.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +32,433 (+10.7%)
> 2018 population: 334,590
> Median household income: $58,506
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.8%
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
28. Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +183,271 (+9.4%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +280,376 (+14.4%)
> 2018 population: 2.2 million
> Median household income: $57,076
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.9%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
29. New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +5,493 (+1.4%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +14,548 (+3.6%)
> 2018 population: 415,247
> Median household income: $78,978
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.4%
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
30. New Jersey: None
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
31. New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +4,218 (+2.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +5,829 (+4.0%)
> 2018 population: 150,056
> Median household income: $60,193
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.8%
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
32. New York: Albany-Schenectady-Troy
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +2,350 (+0.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +12,455 (+1.4%)
> 2018 population: 883,169
> Median household income: $71,301
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.6%
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
33. North Carolina: Raleigh
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +159,756 (+14.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +232,052 (+20.5%)
> 2018 population: 1.4 million
> Median household income: $75,165
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.2%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
34. North Dakota: Fargo
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +21,211 (+10.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +36,694 (+17.6%)
> 2018 population: 245,471
> Median household income: $65,073
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.2%
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
35. Ohio: Columbus
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +106,381 (+5.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +204,534 (+10.8%)
> 2018 population: 2.1 million
> Median household income: $64,052
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.7%
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
36. Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +81,389 (+6.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +143,455 (+11.4%)
> 2018 population: 1.4 million
> Median household income: $57,485
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.0%
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Source: JamesBrey / Getty Images
37. Oregon: Bend-Redmond
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +30,773 (+19.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +34,266 (+21.7%)
> 2018 population: 191,996
> Median household income: $67,577
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.6%
Source: gsheldon / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania: Lebanon
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +6,292 (+4.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +7,737 (+5.8%)
> 2018 population: 141,314
> Median household income: $61,362
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.1%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
39. Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +7,768 (+0.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +20,126 (+1.3%)
> 2018 population: 1.6 million
> Median household income: $65,083
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.4%
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40. South Carolina: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +105,460 (+28.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +104,336 (+27.7%)
> 2018 population: 480,891
> Median household income: $51,580
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.2%
Source: Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images
41. South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +19,823 (+8.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +37,391 (+16.4%)
> 2018 population: 265,653
> Median household income: $61,196
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.7%
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
42. Tennessee: Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +178,958 (+10.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +260,085 (+15.6%)
> 2018 population: 1.9 million
> Median household income: $65,919
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
43. Texas: Austin-Round Rock
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +310,931 (+18.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +451,995 (+26.3%)
> 2018 population: 2.2 million
> Median household income: $76,925
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
Source: Eddie Maloney from North Las Vegas, USA / Wikimedia Commons
44. Utah: St. George
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +24,835 (+18.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +33,585 (+24.3%)
> 2018 population: 171,700
> Median household income: $56,333
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.7%
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Source: ErikaMitchell / Getty Images
45. Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +4,605 (+2.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +9,821 (+4.6%)
> 2018 population: 221,083
> Median household income: $71,452
> January 2020 unemployment: 1.8%
Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
46. Virginia: Winchester
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +8,171 (+6.4%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +11,335 (+8.8%)
> 2018 population: 139,810
> Median household income: $65,170
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.5%
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
47. Washington: Olympia-Tumwater
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +25,634 (+10.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +34,159 (+13.5%)
> 2018 population: 286,419
> Median household income: $72,703
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.8%
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
48. West Virginia: Morgantown
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +7,237 (+5.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +10,549 (+8.1%)
> 2018 population: 140,259
> Median household income: $50,574
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.8%
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
49. Wisconsin: Madison
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +29,185 (+4.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +54,973 (+9.1%)
> 2018 population: 660,422
> Median household income: $70,463
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
50. Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: +3,019 (+3.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +7,091 (+7.7%)
> 2018 population: 98,976
> Median household income: $64,306
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.4%
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