Texas ranked first among all states in the United States for inbound moves in 2025, according to the latest annual U-Haul Growth Index. This report, compiled from well over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul rentals, measures domestic migration patterns and shows where people are relocating across the country. For Texans and people considering a move to the state, the data confirms a broader trend of strong population inflows.
Migration patterns are a central factor shaping population shifts, local economies, housing demand, and urban growth in Texas cities, including Austin. Understanding where the migration is coming from and how it compares to national trends helps contextualize Austin’s ongoing expansion and its role in the state’s demographic evolution.
What the U-Haul Growth Index Measures
The U-Haul Growth Index counts net inbound and outbound one-way moves, based on transactions where customers pick up moving equipment in one state and return it in another. A “net gain” means more people moved into a state than out of it. While this index does not directly equate to official population estimates, it is a useful indicator of where residents are choosing to relocate.
U-Haul’s data sources cover well over 2.5 million annual one-way transactions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Because self-movers using U-Haul trucks and trailers represent a significant portion of interstate moves, the index reflects broad patterns of mobility.
Texas Reclaims the No. 1 Spot
For 2025, Texas reclaimed the top position as the state with the largest net gain of one-way inbound moves nationwide. This marks Texas’s seventh time in the past decade at the top of the U-Haul Growth Index after briefly ranking second in the previous year.
Behind Texas, the states with the largest net inbound moves included Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. California continued to rank last on the list for the sixth consecutive year, indicating ongoing net outbound movement from that state.
This pattern suggests that Texas remains a leading destination for U.S. residents relocating for jobs, housing, family reasons, or lifestyle changes. Though the Growth Index should not be interpreted as a precise population change measure, its cross-state mobility data is one of the most widely cited indicators of internal migration.
Migration Trends Within Texas
Alongside state rankings, U-Haul data also highlights city-level patterns. Within the state, several Texas metros reported strong net inbound moves in 2025. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area continued to lead U.S. metro markets in net inbound one-way moves, reflecting ongoing corporate relocations and residential growth in North Texas. Austin and Houston also ranked among the notable growth metros, indicating sustained migration interest across the state’s major urban centers.
Statewide migration trends are also supported by proximate reporting that Austin continues to be a major hub within Texas. Earlier reporting notes Austin’s recent demographic positioning among Texas’s largest cities, underscoring its continued appeal for newcomers.
Why People Are Relocating to Texas
Multiple factors contribute to Texas’s role as a top inbound state:
Economic opportunities: Texas’s job market has expanded across sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, and logistics, drawing relocating workers from other states and regions.
Cost of living: Though housing markets have tightened in some metro areas, Texas remains generally more affordable than many coastal cities, particularly in California and the Northeast.
Tax environment: Texas’s absence of a state income tax is frequently cited as an incentive for individuals and businesses relocating from states with higher tax burdens.
Quality of life considerations: Warm climate, diverse cultural amenities, and relatively lower overall costs of living factor into relocation decisions for many families and professionals.
These drivers align with longer-term demographic trends that have made the South and Southwest attractive regions for internal migration, particularly among people leaving higher-cost states with slower economic growth.
What This Means for Austin
For Austin specifically, ranking among the top destination metros reflects both the city’s growing national profile and ongoing debates about housing supply, infrastructure, and urban quality of life. Continued inbound migration can support local businesses and workforce pools, but it also intensifies demand for housing and transportation resources.
Austin’s connection to broader state migration trends underscores its role in Texas’s economy. Whether people are relocating for jobs in tech, remote work flexibility, lower costs compared with other tech hubs, or lifestyle factors, the city remains a key magnet for new residents.
Interpreting the U-Haul Data
While the U-Haul Growth Index is not a substitute for official population estimates such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s figures, it offers a timely look at migration momentum. Net one-way move data provides early indications of where people are choosing to live before annual or decennial census counts are updated.
Growth Index rankings can shift year to year based on economic conditions, labor markets, housing trends, and regional preferences. Texas’s re-emergence at the top in 2025 reflects both longstanding appeal and recent momentum as interstate movers adjust to changing work and lifestyle priorities.
Conclusion
The U-Haul Growth Index for 2025 positions Texas as the foremost U.S. destination for people moving from other states, with significant inbound migration to major metros including Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston. These trends illustrate persistent and dynamic domestic relocation patterns that are shaping population shifts across the country. For Austin residents and newcomers alike, understanding these patterns offers insight into broader economic and demographic forces influencing life in central Texas