List ranks SC No. 1 state for US movers in 2023. Greenville a Top 5 city. What to know.
In 2023, South Carolina remains the No. 1 hotspot for American movers, with Greenville placing No. 5 when it comes to top cities for incoming residents.
MoveBuddha analyzed post-pandemic trends and patterns to determine popular states and cities and why they chose to move there.
South Carolina, North Carolina and Montana led moves out-of-state for 2020 through 2023.
In addition to the allure of warm weather and proximity to sandy beaches, the report also states South Carolina is 11.5% cheaper than the national average in terms of cost of living. When it comes to the great outdoors, remote workers looking for an escape in nature can enjoy activities such as sailing and hiking.
Urban areas like California, New Jersey and Connecticut had significantly more outbound moves than inbound. When it comes to the most searched states with at least 10K mover queries, North Carolina, Florida and Colorado attracted the highest proportions of inflow in 2023.
From Crybaby Bridge to Gassaway Mansion: 9 haunted spots in Greenville, Upstate SC
Areas like Greenville are experiencing growth due to affordability, a steady climate and better access to outdoor activities, while expensive areas drive Americans away when cost of living becomes a challenge. Greenville's strong job market also makes it a desirable city to live in, with many work opportunities in healthcare, tech and manufacturing industries.
Nearby Asheville (No. 1) and Myrtle Beach (No. 3) were also in the Top 5 for most popular cities for movers.
Here is a closer look at the most popular and least popular states:
Most Popular States of 2023
∎ No. 1: South Carolina, 2.11
∎ No. 2: Hawaii, 1.91
∎ No. 3: Alaska, 1.82
∎ No. 4: North Carolina, 1.74
∎ No. 5: Montana, 1.74
∎ No. 6: West Virginia, 1.69
∎ No. 7: Tennessee, 1.62
∎ No. 8: Arkansas, 1.49
∎ No. 9: Maine, 1.49
∎ No. 10: South Dakota, 1.43
Least Popular States of 2023
∎ No. 1: California, 0.54
∎ No. 2: New Jersey, 0.64
∎ No. 3: Connecticut, 0.54
∎ No. 4: Ohio, 0.77
∎ No. 5: Maryland, 0.77
∎ No. 6: Illinois, 0.79
∎ No. 7: Nebraska, 0.79
∎ No. 8: Massachusetts, 0.81
∎ No. 9: Louisiana, 0.81
∎ No.10: Pennsylvania, 0.83
See where we rank: Greenville in Top 5 on Conde Nast list for best small cities in US.
Top Cities to move to in 2023:
∎ No. 1: Asheville, North Carolina, 3.01
∎ No. 2: Ocala, Florida, 2.94
∎ No. 3: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 2.87
∎ No. 4: Dillon, Colorado, 2.46
∎ No. 5: Greenville, South Carolina, 2.28
∎ No. 6: Saint Augustine, Florida, 2.15
∎ No. 7: Wilmington, North Carolina, 2.02
∎ No. 8: Franklin, Tennessee, 2
∎ No. 9: Pensacola, Florida, 1.99
∎ No. 10: Kissimmee, Florida, 1.98
Exit Cities of 2023
∎ No. 1: Bakersfield, California, 0.48
∎ No. 2:Bronx, New York, 0.49
∎ Oakland, California, 0.51
∎ Stamford, Connecticut, 0.53
∎ San Mateo, California, 0.55
∎ Sunnyvale, California, 0.55
∎ Pasadena, California, 0.55
∎ Fresno, California, 0.56
∎ San Jose, California, 0.57
∎ Columbus, Ohio, 0.58
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC top US state for movers in 2023. Greenville a Top 5 city. Here's why.
