Americans are moving less. In 2024, about 7.15 million people relocated across state lines, according to a recent StorageCafe analysis. The number, representing 2.1% of the U.S. population, is the lowest interstate mobility rate in more than a decade and a clear step down from 2.5% in 2022 and 2.3% in 2023.

The rapid reshuffling that defined the early 2020s has cooled, easing the demographic momentum that often influences housing demand and broader commercial real estate activity. Yet the slowdown does not mean stagnation: regional winners and losers are still emerging; family, jobs and affordability remain central drivers; and generational patterns are reshaping who moves and where they settle.

Gen Z accounts for the largest share of interstate movers

Gen Z leads all generations in interstate moves, accounting for roughly 2.2 million relocations. That reflects life-stage mobility: early careers, education transitions and rental housing flexibility.

Millennials remain relatively mobile as well, with 2 million moving to a different state during the same period. However, rising home prices, mortgage rates and the natural progression toward a different stage of life have obviously altered decision-making related to moving. With borrowing costs elevated and many homeowners locked into lower mortgage rates secured before 2022, discretionary relocation has slowed.

Texas and Florida still lead in net gains, but growth has tempered significantly

Despite the broader slowdown in interstate mobility, Texas and Florida remain the top two states for net domestic migration in 2024. Texas recorded approximately 76,000 net inbound domestic migrants in 2024. That total, while enough to secure the No. 1 position nationally, represents a sharp decline from 2023, when the state added roughly 136,000 net newcomers. Florida followed with about 68,000 net new residents in 2024, down significantly from the roughly 126,000 it gained the year prior.

South Carolina posted around 54,000 net gains, and Arizona added about 51,000. Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee also ranked among the top states for net migration.

Nevada stands out in particular. With over 45,000 newcomers, the state more than doubled its net domestic migration compared with the previous year, marking one of the strongest year-over-year accelerations in the country. Tennessee follows the same trend, increasing net migration by 19% to receive 33,000 newcomers, incentivized by a still-affordable housing market.

The Midwest is starting to emerge as an attractive moving destination

Among the top 10 states for net migration in 2024, only one falls outside the South and Mountain West. Ohio recorded approximately 29,000 net domestic migrants, marking a meaningful reversal from prior years of population loss.

Ohio’s surprising inclusion in the top 10 signals an emerging shift. As housing costs have climbed in traditional Sun Belt destinations, some households are broadening their search. States in the Midwest are benefiting from lower home prices and stable employment bases, which are drawing movers seeking affordability without sacrificing economic opportunity. Looking beyond the top 10 states for net migration, Michigan and Wisconsin are also showing signs of capturing interest from Americans moving long distance.

While the Midwest does not yet rival the South in total inbound numbers, its relative improvement suggests we might soon see a far more diverse migration landscape.

Smaller states lead per-capita migration gains

Population-adjusted migration reveals something raw totals can’t: where growth is most concentrated relative to the existing base. That distinction matters because structural shifts in housing demand, labor supply and local economic activity are driven by growth intensity, not volume, and, on that measure, smaller states dominate the rankings.

By that measure, Vermont ranks first nationally, adding just over 20 net domestic migrants per 1,000 residents in 2024 – roughly 2% population growth from interstate moves alone. The composition of that inflow sharpens the picture further: 86% hold at least a bachelor’s degree and 36% are Gen Z. For a small state, that level of concentrated, education-driven in-migration can meaningfully reshape local labor markets, housing demand and the commercial activity that follows both.

North Dakota and Wyoming each added more than nine net newcomers per 1,000 residents, but the two states tell different stories. North Dakota’s arrivals skew younger and more rental-oriented – only about 31% purchased a home shortly after moving. Wyoming’s movers, by contrast, transitioned predominantly into homeownership, suggesting financially established households with a different footprint on local services and retail activity.

West Virginia and Idaho round out the top five at roughly eight and six net newcomers per 1,000 residents respectively. In both states, Gen Z represents the largest incoming cohort, reinforcing the growing role of affordability and lifestyle considerations in shaping where younger Americans are choosing to settle.

California heads high-cost states that continue to see net migration losses

The migration map in 2024 still shows a clear divide between high-cost coastal states and lower-cost interior markets.

California remains the largest net exporter of residents. The state recorded a net domestic migration loss of more than 263,000 people in 2024, marking the 10th consecutive year of net migration losses. While departures are no longer at the extraordinary levels seen in 2021 and 2022, when remote work flexibility accelerated exits, the overall trend has not reversed.

New York follows with a net domestic loss of approximately 129,000 residents. Unlike California, however, New York’s outflow slowed meaningfully compared with the prior year, with about 50,000 fewer net departures. The state continues to face housing affordability constraints, but the pace of relocation appears to be stabilizing as labor markets in finance, media and technology regain momentum.

Illinois and New Jersey also remain in negative territory. Illinois saw a net loss of roughly 81,000 residents in 2024, while New Jersey recorded about 61,000 more departures than arrivals. Both states improved slightly year over year, yet the longer-term direction remains outward.

Self-storage adjusts to the slower migration cycle

Self-storage demand closely follows mobility. Even with interstate migration slowing to 2.1% of the population in 2024, more than 7 million Americans still changed states, sustaining a solid baseline of relocation-driven storage use.

During the peak migration years, many inbound states expanded aggressively. Storage inventory now sits well above the national benchmark of 7.4 square feet per resident in key growth markets: 11.4 square feet in Texas, 11.7 in Nevada, 9.8 in Florida and 13.2 in Oklahoma.

As migration cooled, markets began differentiating. In states where inbound flows eased, such as Texas and Florida, street rates adjusted modestly, down 0.9% and roughly 1.5% respectively. In contrast, Nevada, where net migration more than doubled year over year, saw rates hold steady despite elevated supply. Oklahoma recorded a 1.1% rate increase alongside stronger net migration.

The takeaway is balance. Storage markets are aligning with local migration fundamentals rather than broad national momentum. For operators, that means performance increasingly depends on disciplined market selection and supply management. For renters, it generally means greater choice for self-storage services and pricing affordability and stability.