Florida is the #2 Growth State in 2023
Annual U-Haul ranking report lists Florida as the 2nd most popular moving destination in the U.S.
People continue moving to Florida, and in large numbers! Based upon U-Haul's annual ranking report, Florida was named as the number 2 growth state in 2023, narrowly being beaten out by Texas for the accolade as the nation's top growth state.
U-Haul's ranking list, which comprises more than 2.5 million truck-sharing transactions that occur annually, calculates growth states by looking at the net gain of U-Haul trucks entering a given state, vs leaving it, in a single calendar year.
J.T. Taylor, U-Haul International President states "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."
After Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee were the #3, #4 and #5 top growth states respectively.
With an influx of people moving to the sunshine state each year, Florida is currently ranked as the 3rd most populated state behind California (39.2 million) and Texas (29.5 million). To view the size of Florida's metropolitan areas, and how they compare, visit our Florida's 10 Largest Metropolitan Areas page.
U-Haul's ranking list, which comprises more than 2.5 million truck-sharing transactions that occur annually, calculates growth states by looking at the net gain of U-Haul trucks entering a given state, vs leaving it, in a single calendar year.
J.T. Taylor, U-Haul International President states "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."
After Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee were the #3, #4 and #5 top growth states respectively.
With an influx of people moving to the sunshine state each year, Florida is currently ranked as the 3rd most populated state behind California (39.2 million) and Texas (29.5 million). To view the size of Florida's metropolitan areas, and how they compare, visit our Florida's 10 Largest Metropolitan Areas page.
Top Growth States (2023)
| Rank | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Texas | 29.5 Million |
| 2. | Florida | 21.8 Million |
| 3. | North Carolina | 10.6 Million |
| 4. | South Carolina | 5.2 Million |
| 5. | Tennessee | 7.0 Million |
Source: U-Haul Top Growth States 2023
U-Haul further examines their data of one-way destination trips (of which their trucks are being driven) to determine the top growth cities in Florida. For your convenience, we have mapped these top 7 growth cities in Florida to provide a visual of the growing cities people are moving to.
Top Growth Cities in Florida (2023)
| Rank | City Region |
|---|---|
| 1. | Palm Bay - Melbourne |
| 2. | Ocala |
| 3. | Sarasota - Bradenton |
| 4. | Kissimmee - St. Cloud |
| 5. | Panama City |
| 6. | North Port |
| 7. | Lakeland |
Source: U-Haul Top Growth Cities (2023)
