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Migration map legend

2022 Migration Patterns Study

According to one of the nation’s leading movers Atlas® Van Lines’ Annual Migration Patterns Study, many people relocated to areas with growing populations in 2022, following two years of unprecedented economic and societal shifts. The company has published the annual study since 1993 that tracks the nation’s interstate, cross-border, and international moves based on internal data.

Atlas Van Lines’ data shows that people are leaving some of the most affordable states like Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois, indicating cost of living is being surpassed by other motivations to move, like being closer to family. Overall, the Migration Patterns Study showed 13 U.S. states classified as outbound, meaning more people moved out of the state rather than in, and 13 U.S. states were classified as inbound, which indicates more people moved into the state rather than out.
 
The 10 U.S. states with the highest percentage of inbound and outbound moves in 2022 are included in order below. The fastest-growing state in 2022, Florida was once again a preferred destination for movers. North Carolina tops this year’s inbound list, and Illinois is designated as the country’s outbound leader, following New York’s four-year stand. Oregon was also one of the top outbound states for the first time in the last decade, following three consecutive years with a balanced status.
 
2022 Top 10 Inbound 2022 Top 10 Outbound
North Carolina Illinois
Maine Indiana
Arkansas New York
Florida Iowa
Montana Michigan
Washington Minnesota
New Mexico Pennsylvania
Tennessee Wyoming
Alabama  Mississippi
New Hampshire Oregon
 
Atlas® World Group International saw a 41.5% increase in international household goods moves in 2022, showcasing the impact of eased travel restrictions and increased mobility on international migration patterns. According to data reflecting the total number of international household moves completed, the top international origins and destinations for 2022 included the following:

 
Top 10 Origins (Outside of the U.S.) Top 10 Destinations (Outside of the U.S.)
Japan Japan
Saudi Arabia United Kingdom
Germany Germany
Korea (Democratic Republic of) Korea (Democratic Republic of)
United Kingdom Thailand
France Spain
India China
Netherlands France
China Australia
Singapore
Bahrain


Canadian Provinces
According to data reflecting U.S. interstate and cross-border moves, three Canadian provinces recorded a change from 2021 to 2022. Alberta and Québec both changed from balanced in 2021 to inbound and outbound, respectively, while British Columbia became balanced in 2022. 

Migration Insights:
Flocking to Florida: Is Everyone Moving to the Sunshine State?
Migration Time Machine: A Look Back at 1992 Moving Trends

How status is determined
Each state's or province's status is determined by its threshold value, which is the total number of shipments multiplied by 0.55 (i.e., in a state with 100 moves, at least 55 must be outgoing to be considered outbound). All other states or provinces in which outbound or inbound numbers do not exceed the threshold are classified as balanced. Canadian interprovincial and cross-border (from the U.S. to Canada) shipments are both referenced in the study. International moves indicate both states and countries that Atlas World Group International sent the most shipments to from international origin countries in 2022.

To view the full results of the 2022 Migration Patterns Study, along with a nationwide map, regional trends and historical data, download our media kit.