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

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:No. 1 – Dallas-Fort Worth, TexasNo. 2 – Houston, TexasNo. 3 – Austin, TexasNo. 4 – Charlotte, North CarolinaNo. 5 – Phoenix, ArizonaNo. 6 – Nashville, TennesseeNo. 7 – Charleston, South Carolina No. 8 – Raleigh, North CarolinaNo. 9 – Atlanta, GeorgiaNo. 10 – Brownsville & McAllen, Texas

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