Where are people heading?

It seems like people are looking for warm weather, lower taxes, and places with active, healthy lifestyles, and Postalley performed a study of 2020 migration patterns that backs up that assumption. They concluded: “In terms of absolute numbers, California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts had the largest net outflow of people, and Florida, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina had the largest net inflow. The five states with the largest net domestic inflow of people are both warm and relatively affordable.”

Here’s a look at where people are moving from this year and where they’re heading in 2021 and beyond.

New York

New York is known for harsh winters and high taxes— and with more companies going remote, those with city jobs are considering other options for permanent homes.

According to data from MyMove, more than 100,000 people moved from New York City from February through July in 2020, a 487% increase from 2019. In addition, nearly 45,000 movers left Brooklyn, NY, making it the city with the second most movers in the country.

According to USA Today data, Greenville, SC , is a popular destination for New Yorkers this year, as it’s a metropolitan area with great weather and a cost of living that’s nearly 10% lower than the national average.

Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic area is another region with colder winters and a higher cost of living. This year, people are moving to Myrtle Beach as a warm weather, low-tax option that’s 8% cheaper than the national average. U.S. News reported that charming Myrtle Beach is one of the top fastest-growing places in the U.S.

Florida is another popular option with a large number of fast-growing cities. Fort Myers, Sarasota, Ocala, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, and Naples top the list of the fastest-growing places in the U.S. for 2020 and 2021— and that number includes both retirees and those looking to build families there.

New England

New England is another area known for having higher taxes and colder winters combined with higher living costs. These factors are forcing many to consider other options. Moving company United Van Lines released data this year, showing that New Jersey experienced 68.5% outbound moves, one of the country’s highest rates. Reasons often cited include high taxes.

North Carolina has long been a popular option for New Englanders, but it’s been especially popular for warm weather, low taxes, and a great public education system in recent years.

Midwest

The Midwest has shown a significant change in recent years, with many people moving to states like Texas , Florida, Arizona , and New Mexico for better weather, cost of living, and overall lifestyles.

According to the same MyMove study, the city with the third most movers is Chicago, IL , which is often known for harsh and cold winters, despite being a lovely city to live and work in. In Chicago , more than 30,000 people moved out from February through July.

California

California is known for being beautiful, yet very expensive. With the highest cost of living in the country in some places, it’s a popular place to migrate out of in recent years. 2020 is no different—and has encouraged movement from this population further.

Californians in larger cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have been moving to Arizona over many recent years, sparking popularity in places like Phoenix, Tucson, and Scottsdale as lowtax options with beautiful landscapes and warm weather. In 2020, the trend remains true, and Californians are also

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According to United Van Lines data, Idaho is also becoming popular for Californians who are relocating. The state saw a whopping 67.4% inbound movers this year. Small, but fast-growing cities like Boise are often on the top of the list for people who are considering relocating to Idaho.

Californians are also moving to Washington state —mainly to Seattle for work since it’s considered a tech hub similar to San Francisco —and to Portland, OR , for similar cities and culture but with a lower cost of living for a more sustainable lifestyle.