The top state Americans packed up their belongings and moved to in 2025 was Oregon, according to a United Van Lines study.
The Beaver State topped the list with the highest percentage of inbound migration (65%), moving up from the No. 8 spot in 2024.
The state also emerged as a leading inbound destination for job-seeking migrants (36%) because of opportunities in the tech and health care fields.
“People come here for jobs in thriving sectors like tech and health care,” Laura Gwyn, principal broker of Laura Gail Gwyn Properties in Salem, OR, tells Realtor.com®.
In addition, Gwyn says, the Pacific Northwest has long drawn people because outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, skiing, and boating are easily accessible in all directions—along with agriculture, wide open spaces, and a lifestyle that balances nature and culture.
“Oregon is a wonderful state to live in or retire in,” Oregon real estate agent Jude Hodge, of Re/Max Coast and Country, tells Realtor.com. “The natural diverse beauty of the area has to be at the top of the list of why people move to the state. Mother Nature is worth gawking at here, and it’s a big wow to wake up to everyday.”
Hodge, who has been a real estate agent in Oregon for more than a decade, says she’s seen the state become more popular with out-of-state buyers in recent years.
“They’re drawn to the weather, the never-ending towns to explore, and the strong feel of community,” she says.
Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, says that Oregon movers may be attracted by the state’s more affordable cost of living compared to many other coastal metros.
Oregon real estate agent Shana O’Brien, of Works Real Estate, tells Realtor.com, “I’ve helped people relocate to Oregon at retirement age as they’re looking to maximize that ‘no state income tax’ benefit that helps their dollar go a little bit further in retirement. But we’ve also seen a steady inflow of young families, moving for career opportunities, that are eager to raise their kids in Oregon.”
Of Oregon’s inbound moves, 22% have come from the state of California, according to Eily Cummings, vice president of corporate communications at United Van Lines.
“Other states with strong inbound moves to Oregon include Colorado and Washington,” she tells Realtor.com.
Other states people moved to
In addition to Oregon, United Van Lines’ data shows that West Virginia, South Carolina, Delaware, Minnesota, Idaho, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, and Nevada were among the leading destinations for movers.
“We continue to see a significant number of buyers relocating to Southern Nevada from out of state, and today they make up the majority of our business,” Nevada real estate agent Robert Little, of Re/Max Advantage, tells Realtor.com. “What draws many of these clients to Nevada is the combination of financial and lifestyle advantages.”
Little says the lack of a state income tax plays a major role.
“Nevada also offers relatively low property taxes compared to many other luxury markets across the country, along with a stable climate, low exposure to natural disasters, and comparatively lower homeowners insurance costs,” he adds.
In general, United Van Lines found that the top driver for moving interstate was wanting to be closer to family (29%), followed by a new job/company transfer (26%). This wasn’t surprising to Jones.
“People relocate for a variety of reasons, most commonly to be closer to family and for job transfers or new employment opportunities, with retirement also playing a role,” she says. “Households are often looking to optimize proximity to family, proximity to work, and proximity to desirable amenities, and any factor may take precedence in different phases of life.”
The top states people moved from
The No. 1 state people moved from in 2025 was New Jersey, which tops the outbound list for the eighth consecutive year.
The state’s growing appeal to young professionals and families—who consider the region a “launch state” and account for 21% of inbound moves—has coincided with older residents and retirees looking to put down roots elsewhere.
“A high-cost market like New Jersey may lose households who are looking for more affordability,” says Jones.
The other top states people moved from were New York, California, North Dakota, Colorado, Mississippi,
and Massachusetts.
“My clients who moved from New York in 2025 were primarily motivated by proximity to family and friends, job relocations, retirement or lifestyle changes, and taxes,” New York real estate agent Nikki Beauchamp, of Sotheby’s International Realty, tells Realtor.com. “Most of my clients who moved out of state were in the 40 to 60 age range.”
The California wildfires affected many people’s decision to move out of California, according to Cory Weiss of Douglas Elliman in Beverly Hills.
“Before the fires, many clients were already reassessing factors such as housing costs, taxes, and overall lifestyle considerations,” he tells Realtor.com. “In some cases, they felt that home prices no longer aligned with their long-term plans. After the fires, limited inventory and increased competition accelerated decisions for homeowners who were already considering a move.”
In Colorado, Stacie Staub, CEO and co-founder of West + Main Homes, tells Realtor.com, “Many of the out-of-state moves we saw here were a result of economic uncertainty, frozen interest rates, and federal layoffs. The majority of our sellers who listed their homes over the past few months to move out of state were headed to the Midwest to live closer to family or for better affordability; to Florida to be near a beach; and to the Pacific Northwest for a similar outdoor lifestyle.”
According to Jones, high costs of living, taxes, and housing costs—along with the desire for new opportunities or lifestyles—are common reasons people move away from these states.