The U-Haul Growth Index, which tracked more than two million one-way trips in 2017, found that Texas and Florida were the top two states for Americans to visit in 2022.
The Lone Star State, which won the title for the fifth time since 2016, was ranked first for the second year in a row. Its population has been steadily rising for decades, reaching more than 30 million people in 2017.
California, the only other state with more than 30 million people, came in last on U-Haul’s Growth Index the year before last due to increased demand for trucks leaving the Golden State.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas added approximately 470,000 people between July 2021 and July 2022, while California lost approximately 113,000 people.
During that time, approximately 231,000 of Texas’ new residents were the result of domestic migration—Americans moving within states—along with 118,000 from international migration and 118,000 from natural increase.
“Texas is great because you have a low the cost of living, no state income tax, and deregulated energy costs,” Robert Abidin, President of U-Haul Company of Northeast Houston, said in a statement. “Texas is also the energy capital of the U.S. We’re home to every major industry. Anything you’re looking for in Texas, you can find in Texas.”
For the second year in a row, Florida came in second place on the growth index.
In 2022, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, and California were all in the bottom five states for growth.