A recent study revealed that 58% of moving traffic in Massachusetts was out-of-state. You’d expect it was due to the high cost of living. But in fact only 3.8% of respondents noted cost as their impetus to say sayonara to The Spirit of America.
United Van Lines, a national and local moving service, created a list of the top states with the most outbound moves annually. Massachusetts was at the top of that list, moving up to rank as the “fifth most moved out of state” in 2024 compared to coming in at the seventh for 2023.
Over 50% of the customers assisted with moves in Massachusetts were leaving the state altogether, reported United Van Lines.
The most popular reasons for leaving Massachusetts reported are:
- 24.5% moved because of a new job
- 24.1% moved due to family circumstances
- 18.1% left to retire elsewhere
- 11% desired a lifestyle change
Despite the retirement statistics, the highest bracket of those moving both in and out of the state are 65 and older. Those coming in might be doing so to retire near family or for the state’s healthcare.
The top outbound states
The list below shows the top states with the most outbound moves in the past year. AKA: most people leaving the state.
Massachusetts had a total outbound move rate of 57.9% and inbound move rate of 42.1%, meaning more people left the state than came in last year. Although our traffic would tell otherwise…
- New Jersey
- Illinois
- New York
- California
- Massachusetts
- North Dakota
- Wyoming
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
So where are they going?
Not that far. Vermont was America’s most moved to state for three consecutive years, West Virginia took the lead for this year’s top inbound state. These are the states with the top inbound moves in the last year:
- West Virginia
- Delaware
- South Carolina
- District of Columbia
- North Carolina
- Alabama
- Rhode Island
- Oregon
- Arkansas
- Arizona
Rhode Island was not far behind as the seventh most moved to state of 2024 with a 58.2% inbound migration rate.