Some top-10 inbound Southeastern region states—including fourth-ranked South Carolina (61.8%) and ninth-ranked North Carolina (57.3%)—were popular moving destinations in 2019. Of those who left South Carolina, nearly 40% did so for retirement and 34.5% left for job reasons. On the other hand, (44.8%) of those who left North Carolina relocated because of a job situation; nearly a quarter (23.8%) moved for a job and 24.5% moved to be with family.
Joining New Jersey among the top-10 outbound states for the fifth consecutive year were neighbors New York (63%) and Connecticut (63%). Primary reasons cited for leaving the Northeast were retirement (27%) and new job or company transfer (40%).
New to the top 10 outbound states in 2019 was California with (43%), the study found. Of those who left California in 2019,(39% cited a new job or company transfer as the reason for moving.
Midwestern states had a significant showing of outbound movers. Returnees to the list included Illinois (66.5%), Kansas (58.5%), Ohio (58%), Michigan (57%) and Iowa (55%). The exodus from the Midwest was primarily due to a desire to retire elsewhere (23%) and for a new job or company transfer (51%), the survey showed.
Additionally, the study noted that several states such as Maine and Oklahoma fell into the "balanced states” category – having nearly the same number of residents moving inbound as outbound.