Austin was a top-3 destination for movers in 2025, U-Haul says

by @ianofAustin

Austin attracted more newcomers than almost all other U.S. metros in 2025, according to a new migration report from U-Haul.

The Austin metro ranked No. 3 nationally in U-Haul’s annual list of the top destinations for people on the move in 2025.

U-Haul’s annual Top U.S. Growth Metros and Cities report is based on how many one-way transactions were made by do-it-yourself movers using a U-Haul truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container across the U.S. and Canada. According to the study’s methodology, more than 2.5 million one-way moves took place in North America in 2025.

Austin last ranked as the 5th most-moved-to destination, a position it held for two consecutive years starting in 2023.

Additionally, Texas reclaimed the No. 1 spot as U-Haul’s Top Growth State in 2025, which was held by South Carolina in 2024.

“U-Haul customers arriving in Texas accounted for 50.7 percent of all one-way traffic in and out of the state last year (49.3 percent leaving),” the report said. “Compared to 2024, customers coming to Texas rose 3 percent [year-over-year] while departures rose just 1 percent [year-over-year].”

Dallas and Houston, respectively, claimed No. 1 and No. 2 in U-Haul’s top growth metros for 2025. This is the second year in a row Dallas has remained at the top of the list, while Houston previously ranked No. 9 in 2024.

Two booming Central Texas cities also appeared in U-Haul’s separate list of the top growth cities: Seguin (No. 14) and New Braunfels (No. 15).

“We continue to find that life circumstances — marriage, children, a death in the family, college, jobs and other events — dictate the need for most moves,” said U-Haul International president John “J.T.” Taylor. “But other factors can be important to people who are looking to change their surroundings. In-migration states are often appealing to those customers.”

The top 10 growth metros in 2025 are: