Full Breakdown
U-Haul Report Shows Distinct Migration Trends Across U.S. Generations
8/7/2026, 8:35:58 PM
Background and Methodology
U-Haul released a migration-trends report on July 29, analyzing one year of customer moves—from July 2025 through June 2026—based on the net gain or loss of its trucks, trailers, and U-Box containers in each state.
Generational Destination Patterns
- Baby Boomers gravitate toward the Southeast, with South Carolina ranking first and North Carolina second among net-gain states. Florida, Arizona and Alabama complete the top five.
- Gen X also favor Florida and Texas, then spread to the Southeast and Mountain West, notably South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
- Millennials split between Sun Belt and the Midwest, choosing Florida and Texas but also California, Ohio and Idaho as primary destinations.
- Gen Z concentrates in major metropolitan areas, with New York City, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles leading the top-five net-gain cities. Additional hubs include Austin, Charlotte, Denver and Seattle.
Florida is the only state appearing in the top-10 net-gain list for all four generations; Texas ranks in the top-10 for three generations, while Idaho appears for three generations except Gen Z.
Key State Rankings by Generation
- Baby Boomers: South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Alabama.
- Gen X: Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama.
- Millennials: Florida, Texas, California, Ohio, Idaho.
- Gen Z: Texas, California, New York, Illinois, Colorado (with additional presence in Washington, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Nevada).
Why It Matters
The report highlights a generational divide in relocation motives: older adults prioritize retirement-friendly climates, while younger cohorts seek employment, education and urban amenities. Policymakers and real-estate developers can use these patterns to anticipate housing demand, infrastructure needs, and labor-market shifts in the highlighted states and cities.
Outlook
U-Haul plans to update its migration analysis annually, offering a continuous lens on how demographic cohorts reshape regional population dynamics.
