Texas is the top state in the nation for growth, according to U-Haul's Growth Index.
According to U-Haul, Texas had the most significant growth in 2021, edging out Florida for the top spot. Last year's top state, Tennessee, finished third.
The company calculates growth in states by considering the "net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state in a calendar year," according to U-Haul's methodology. "Migration trends data is compiled from well over 2 million one-way U-Haul truck customer transactions that occur annually."
“The Texas economy is growing fast,” said Kristina Ramos, president of U-Haul of South Austin. “With a strong job market and low cost of living, it’s a no brainer. Texas doesn’t have an income tax, so families get more for their money.”
U-Haul officials also discussed growth in other areas of the country.
“We see a lot of growth coming from the East and West Coast" said Matt Merrill, U-Haul area district vice president of the Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex and West Texas. “A lot of people moving here from California [and] New York. We also see a lot of people coming in from the Chicago market. I think that’s a lot due to the job growth, a lot of opportunity here. The cost of living here is much lower than those areas.”
As for the bottom of the list, California ranked last and Illinois 49th, the second year in a row in those respective positions for both states.
The rankings included Washington, D.C., but exclude Hawaii because state-to-state driving is impossible.
The moving van rental company also published data about the 25 highest-growth cities in the United States. Five Texas cities ranked within this group, with College Station-Bryan rated the highest at No. 7. Grapevine, Austin, Richardson and Carrolton also made the list.
