2008 Migration Patterns
Based on 84,447 Interstate and Cross-Border Household Goods Moves from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.
(Click on individual state/province for 10-year historical data.)
Where is America moving?
Every January, Atlas Van Lines releases the results of its annual Migration Patterns study, which analyzes data on the origins and destinations of interstate moves during the last 12 months. The 2008 results provide a snapshot of a nation slowing down as it faces a tough economic climate--yet reaching west and south toward brighter prospects.
Economic hardship was apparent as data showed Midwesterners moving away in droves, even though the number of overall household moves dropped significantly. Atlas' total interstate and cross-border moves were down nearly 10 percent from 2007, when Atlas moved 92,743 households. The total for 2008 was 84,447.
The following trends were evident:
Rust Belt exodus
As the manufacturing and automobile industries shed jobs, states whose economies rely heavily on these industries experienced the highest percentages of outbound household moves. Ohio recorded the nation's highest percentage of outbound moves for the second year in a row, and neighbors Michigan and Indiana recorded the second- and third-highest respectively.
Northwest gains in popularity
Though overall moves were down, those who were moving were drawn west; the majority of states classified as inbound lie west of the Mississippi River. The Northwestern U.S., in particular, was a popular destination. Alaska and Oregon attracted the second- and third-highest percentage of inbound moves respectively. Washington had its second straight year in the inbound column, while Montana became inbound for the first time since 2005.
Seeking sun in the Southwest
Those put off by the chill of Northwestern states saw promise in the Southwest. For the sixth consecutive year, Texas welcomed the most inbound moves, and Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada were all inbound states. California, too, saw a large number of inbound moves, though it remained balanced.
East Cost continues to lose appeal
New York, which has been outbound all but the first year of the study, again saw more residents leave than arrive. New Jersey, also, recorded its seventh straight year in the outbound column. Connecticut and Delaware—which had both been balanced for several years – joined their neighbors as outbound states in 2008.
Mideast corridor holds ground
Washington D.C. remained a popular relocation destination in 2008, attracting the highest percentage of inbound moves in the U.S. for the third consecutive year. North Carolina remained very popular, as well, posting its 10th consecutive inbound year. Virginia, which had been balanced since 2005, became inbound last year.
How is a state classified?
Each state/province has a threshold value, which is the total number of shipments multiplied by 0.55 (for example, in a state with 100 moves, at least 55 of them would have to be outgoing to classify the state as outbound). A state/province is considered:
- Outbound when outbound shipments exceed the threshold.
- Inbound when inbound shipments exceed the threshold.
All other states are classified as balanced. Shipments noted for Canada are cross-border-to the United States or from the United States (not inter-provincial).
