Atlas annual migration patterns

Atlas van Lines has released its Annual Migration Patterns Study examining where its customers have moved to and from in the past year. Following several years of unprecedented and unpredictable changes in the economy, housing market, and job market, Atlas’ study provides unique insights into customers’ interstate, cross-border, and international moves. Atlas has published its migration patterns study since 1993, with 2023 marking its 30th annual study tracking moving habits and preferences based on internal data.

Atlas Van Lines’ stats correlate with some national data such as high inbound rates to hot housing markets in Maine and New Hampshire, as well as states that are good for business, including Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. However, many of the country’s most affordable states have seen high rates of outbound moves, particularly in the Midwest, such as Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio.

The 10 US states with the highest percentage of inbound and outbound moves in 2023 are included below in order of highest inbound and highest outbound rates. North Carolina and Maine remain top-desired states from 2022 with New Hampshire making the largest jump from 10th to third. Pennsylvania’s rate of outbound moves dramatically increased in 2023, as did Oregon’s. Meanwhile, the exodus from Indiana has seemed to slow, although it remains high on the outbound list.

2023 Top 10 Inbound

Maine

North Carolina

New Hampshire

Montana       

Washington

Arkansas

Florida

New Mexico

District of Columbia

Texas

2023 Top 10 Outbound

Illinois

Pennsylvania

Louisiana

Minnesota

Indiana

Oregon

Iowa

Mississippi

New York

Ohio

Canadian Provinces

The Atlas Van Lines Canada data shows that more people are moving from the southern provinces to the northern provinces. The top three inbound provinces were Newfoundland, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, whereas the top three outbound provinces were Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Hawaii was once again a sought-after destination this year, with 77% of the shipments being inbound. 

Meanwhile, Atlas World Group International reported the following trends in overseas relocation:

Top 10 Inbound (Outside of the US)

Japan

South Korea

Germany

United Kingdom

Bahrain

Australia

Canada

Kuwait

India

Jordan

Top 10 Outbound (Outside of the US)

Japan

South Korea

Kuwait

Germany

Saudi Arabia

Puerto Rico

Greece

India

Denmark

United Kingdom

How Atlas Determines Status

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 US to Canada) shipments are both referenced in the study. International moves indicate both states and countries to which Atlas World Group International sent the most shipments from international origin countries in 2023.