More people fleeing California more than any other state as red states grow: U-Haul
More people are leaving California than any other state, according to a U-Haul analysis. Getty Images
More people are leaving California than any other state, as residents continue relocating to places such as Texas and Florida, according to a new analysis from U-Haul.
California ranked last for the sixth consecutive year on the moving and storage company’s list of “growth states,” which measures net migration based on one-way rentals.
There was, however, a small bright spot. U-Haul said California’s net population loss in 2025 was smaller than in 2024. “While California’s exodus of do-it-yourself movers was greater than any other state, it saw a smaller net loss in 2025 than in 2024,” the company said in a news release issued Monday.
Joining California at the bottom of the rankings were Illinois (49), New Jersey (48), New York (47), and Massachusetts (46). U-Haul noted that the bottom five states—and nine of the 10 lowest-ranked states overall—are led by Democratic governors, with seven voting Democratic in the most recent presidential election. By contrast, seven of the top 10 growth states are governed by Republicans, and nine voted Republican in the 2024 election.
The top five growth states were Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
“We continue to find that life circumstances—marriage, children, a death in the family, college, jobs, and other events—drive most moves,” said John “J.T.” Taylor, president of U-Haul International.
“But other factors can also matter to people looking to change their surroundings,” he added. “States with strong in-migration tend to be more appealing to those customers.”
The U-Haul Growth Index is based on more than 2.5 million rentals in which customers picked up a truck or trailer in one state and dropped it off in another.
Oregon posted the biggest improvement, jumping to 11th place in 2025 after ranking 34th in 2024. Ohio experienced the steepest decline, falling 29 spots to 43rd. Florida dominated the city growth rankings, claiming 12 of the top 25 spots, including Ocala at No. 1. No California city made the list.
U-Haul emphasized that the rankings do not directly measure population or economic growth but serve as an indicator of how well states, metro areas, and cities are attracting and retaining residents.
Additional data cited by The Journal of Consumer Research showed California recorded the nation’s largest net migration loss in May, with 15,568 people leaving the state and only 8,238 moving in—a net loss of 7,330. The journal pointed to California’s high cost of living as a major factor driving residents away.
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