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2020 Migration Trends: OHIO is the U-Haul No. 4 Growth State

todayJanuary 5, 2021 19

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PHOENIX (Jan. 4, 2021) — Ohio is the No. 4 growth state in America, according to U-Haul® data analyzing migration patterns from 2020.

Tennessee edges Texas, the leading growth state from 2016-18, and Florida, the No. 1 growth state for 2019, for top honors on the new U-Haul chart.

Ohio has been among the top 15 growth states each of the past three years, and the No. 4 ranking is the Buckeye State’s highest mark since it was third for growth in 2015.

Growth states are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck-sharing transactions that occur annually.

Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia round out the top 10 growth states, creating a 2020 stronghold for the Southeast and Southwest regions in attracting do-it-yourself movers (with Ohio being an exception to that trend).

California slides one position to 50th as the state with the steepest out-migration – or the largest net loss of U-Haul trucks crossing its border. New York ranks 42nd. Illinois is 49th.

People coming to Ohio in one-way U-Haul trucks increased 8% during the past year, while departures rose 7% from 2019. Arrivals accounted for nearly 50.4% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Ohio during 2020 to make it the No. 4 state for netting DIY movers, rising three spots from its previous ranking.

“I’m not surprised by Ohio’s ranking this year given the investments within metro areas,” said Drew Case, U-Haul Company of SW Ohio president. “Additionally, suburbs have continued to see growth. There is a large demand for housing since there has been a housing shortage in the last five years. Builders continue to develop all over the state. U-Haul is adding on to existing facilities and purchased several new locations to compete with the strong self-storage market and increased equipment needs here.”

“Some of the suburbs around Columbus are giving tax incentives for businesses to move into the area,” added David Ruff, U-Haul Company of SE Ohio president. “There are jobs available at new companies, and the workforce is moving to be near the work.”

Ohio’s leading growth cities include the Columbus suburb of Worthington, Athens, Cleveland, Springfield, Youngstown and Huber Heights.

Other notable net-gain cities are Cleveland Heights, Elyria, Canton and Miamisburg.

Visit myuhaulstory.com to view the top 50 growth states and top 25 U.S. growth cities for 2020, as well as the top 25 Canadian growth cities.

Written by: WKTN Staff

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