Despite its high rates of crime and the prevalence of homelessness and vagrancy, Dallas purportedly ranked ninth in a report by U-Haul that determined which cities in the United States last year drew the most newcomers.
The most popular destination, according to the U-Haul Growth Index, was the Palm Bay-Melbourne area of Florida, followed by Ocala, Florida; Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina; Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida; and Austin, Texas.
Florida dominated the rankings with seven cities making the list.
Of the 25 areas listed on the index, the only other Texas city to rank was Conroe, at No.16.
However, U-Haul ranked Texas the No.1 growth state for the sixth straight time in eight years — 2016-2018 and 2021-2023 — and this is the third consecutive year it has finished at the top of the list.
“DIY movers arriving in Texas accounted for 50.4% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in and out of Texas (49.6% departures) to keep it the leading growth state,” the company said. “Florida ranks right behind Texas among growth states for the third year in a row, followed by North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.”
Rounding out the top 10 were Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, and Virginia.
“For the fourth year in a row, California reflected the largest net loss of one-way movers,” the company said. “Other bottom-five states for growth are Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts. New York ranks 43rd.”
U-Haul calculates the rankings based on each state’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions in a calendar year. That data is generated from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer, and U-Box transactions each year in the U.S. and Canada.
“Migration to states in the Southeast and Southwest is still very pronounced,” said John Taylor, U-Haul International president. “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.”
2023 U-Haul U.S. Growth Cities, with 2022 growth rankings in parentheses:
1. PALM BAY-MELBOURNE, FL (4)
2. OCALA, FL (1)
3. CHARLESTON-NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (10)
4. SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL
5. AUSTIN, TX
6. COLLEGE STATION-BRYAN, TX
7. CHARLOTTE, NC
8. HUNTSVILLE, AL (9)
9. DALLAS, TX
10. MYRTLE BEACH-NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (17)
11. KISSIMMEE-ST. CLOUD, FL
12. PANAMA CITY-PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL
13. NORTH PORT, FL (6)
14. BOISE, ID
15. WAKE FOREST, NC
16. CONROE, TX (19)
17. KNOXVILLE, TN
18. SURPRISE, AZ (8)
19. AUBURN-OPELIKA, AL (5)
20. LAKELAND, FL (21)
21. MURFREESBORO, TN
22. WILMINGTON, NC
23. QUEEN CREEK, AZ
24. HENDERSON, NV (17)
25. NAMPA, ID