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An analysis of out-of-state migration by moving truck rental company U-Haul says Connecticut saw a big drop in how many movers it was attracting from out-of-state last year.
The company sorted all 50 states by the gap between what percentage of its cross-border, one-way rentals were going into a state and what percentage were leaving.
Connecticut fell 14 places in the ranking between 2022 and 2023, landing in 42nd place. U-Haul’s analysis didn’t include the specific delta between inbound and outbound moves in Connecticut, but described the five states at the ranking’s bottom – California in 50th place, followed by Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey and Michigan – as “net-loss” states.
Conversely, Texas retained its spot for the sixth year in a row as the state with the biggest net gain in the kind of one-way, less wealthy, do-it-yourself movers that U-Haul serves. Other high-growth states: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“While one-way transactions in 2023 remained below the record-breaking levels we witnessed immediately following the pandemic, we continued to see many of the same geographical trends from U-Haul customers moving between states,” John Taylor, U-Haul International president, said in a statement. “Migration to states in the Southeast and Southwest is still very pronounced. Demand for one-way equipment out of certain markets in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast mirrors what we have seen during recent moving cycles. Wherever DIY customers go, and whatever mobility and self-storage needs they have in 2024, U-Haul will be there with solutions.”
A similar, but separate analysis by United Van Lines classed Connecticut as having neither an excessive tilt towards gaining nor losing movers, but did calculate that 53 percent of United Van Lines traffic starting or ending in the state were outbound trips.
“We are continuing to see the trend that Americans are moving to more affordable, lower-density areas across the country, with many heading to Southern states,” United Van Lines Vice President of Corporate Communications Eily Cummings said in a statement. “Movers are also becoming more strategic with their planning, as relocation continues to be driven by factors such as the price of housing, regional climates, urban planning and job growth.”
Just shy of three-quarters of outbound United Van Lines customers in Connecticut made over $100,000, and 71 percent were over age 55 according to the company’s survey of its customers also released along with its traffic analysis. The biggest reasons for moving in that survey: retirement (23.4 percent), family (23.4 percent) and job (19.6 percent).
If there’s one consolation for state leaders, it’s that Connecticut fared better than New York State and Massachusetts in both analysis. U-Haul said both had greater mover loss than Connecticut, while United Van Lines classified both as “high outbound” states: Nearly 57 percent of Massachusetts movers using the company were headed out of state, while 60 percent of New Yorkers were doing the same.
