2012 Migration Patterns

Based on 73,256 Interstate and Cross-Border Household Goods Relocations
from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
(Click on individual state/province for 10-year historical data.)

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View the Moving Migration Patterns Infographic

Where is America moving?

Since January 1993, Atlas Van Lines has reviewed and released data on the origins and destinations of interstate moves throughout the previous calendar year. The 2012 Migration Patterns study results provide a snapshot of relocation patterns and this year reflect that there have been more shifts from inbound and outbound to balanced states.

While Southwestern and Mid-Atlantic coastal states remain as the most popular destinations, the Midwest is moving to a more balanced region than in years past. California comes in at the top with nearly 13,000 moves in 2012. For the seventh consecutive year, Washington D.C. had the highest percentage of inbound moves, while Nebraska and New York beat out Ohio for the highest percentage of outbound moves.

Other migration trends:

Northern States

The Northern states saw no changes from 2011 to 2012. New York and New Jersey have been outbound for more than 10 years, with Pennsylvania remaining balanced for more than 10 years. Washington DC is the only northern location with more than 10 years on the inbound list.

Southern States

The Southeast remains balanced. Southwest states Texas and New Mexico continue to be inbound states, as well as Mid-Atlantic states Virginia and North Carolina. Kentucky remains balanced in 2012 after becoming a newly inbound state in 2010 and moving back to balanced in 2011.

Midwestern States

After 2011 showed the majority of its states with more outbound than inbound moves, the Midwest region now has five balanced states – Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri and Michigan. Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska remain outbound. Indiana has been an outbound state for more than 11 consecutive years. No Midwestern state has been classified as inbound for more than 10 years.

Western States

The annual study shows that the majority of the Western states remain balanced. Only two states are inbound or outbound – Utah (outbound) and New Mexico (inbound). California has now been balanced for more than 10 consecutive years.

How is a state classified?

Each state/province has a threshold value, which is the total number of shipments multiplied by 0.55 (for example, in a state with 100 moves, at least 55 of them would have to be outgoing to classify the state as outbound). A state/province is considered:

• Outbound when outbound shipments exceed the threshold.
• Inbound when inbound shipments exceed the threshold.

All other states are classified as balanced. Shipments noted for Canada are cross-border to the United States or from the United States (not inter-provincial).

View our 2012 Migration Patterns Infographic for a 10-year snapshot!