Over the past five years, people have been steadily moving away from city centers and major metropolitan areas. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in recent years, the fastest growing areas have been small and midsize U.S. cities in the Sun Belt, which includes the 15 states that extend from Virginia to Florida on the East Coast to the tip of Nevada and Southern California on the West Coast. People are clearly drawn to nice weather, but that’s not it—they also want an easygoing lifestyle and relief from high housing costs and long commutes.
But there’s one state that people want to move to more than any other. How do we know? MoveBuddha, which tracks moving trends and builds tech tools for those moving, crunched the data. Its 2025 moving trends report shows which states Americans want to move to—and which ones they want to move out of.
To learn more about why people keep looking to the No. 1 state, we talked to two Realtors who specialize in helping people move there. Keep reading to find out America’s biggest relocation destination and which state we’d like to leave in the rearview.
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How were moving trends determined?
MoveBuddha used data collected from 2020 through Oct. 1, 2025, from searches made through its proprietary Moving Cost Calculator. Researchers analyzed trends and determined what they call an “in-to-out ratio,” which compares the number of people who want to move to a place with the number who are thinking about leaving. To calculate each state’s ratio, MoveBuddha divided the number of searches for moves into a place by the number of searches for moves out.
What state are people relocating to?
South Carolina is the No. 1 state people want to relocate to, with an in-to-out move ratio of 1.97. That means there are almost twice as many people looking to move to South Carolina as there are trying to move away. Even more impressive is the fact that South Carolina has been at the top of MoveBuddha’s searches for six straight years.
Why are people moving to South Carolina?
“If I had to pick one major reason people move here, it’s the way life feels in South Carolina,” says Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, broker-in-charge at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty, which operates in the state.
Jessica Hazzard Stone, a Lowcountry native and Realtor at Carolina One Realty Co. on James Island, had similar thoughts when asked why she moved back to her home state after a few years away. “I missed the Lowcountry lifestyle,” she says, speaking of the coastal counties in the southeastern corner of the state. She says it’s so appealing that more than 40 people move to the Charleston area every day—and it’s been that way for years.
Let’s take a closer look at what Stone missed about South Carolina and what brought Galbreath-Gonzalez to the area.
Perfect climate
Galbreath-Gonzalez explains that the climate is a big draw, especially for people who want to be outside almost all year while still experiencing different seasons. “Golf, boating, pickleball, biking, beaches and outdoor dining become part of your weekly routine, not a vacation treat,” she says.
“We have winter,” Stone says. “But we don’t get snow, and Northerners love that they can leave their shovels behind.”
Reasonable cost of living
“South Carolina’s property taxes are low, and the overall cost of living is manageable, especially compared to many of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states people are moving from,” Galbreath-Gonzalez says.
There are definitely expensive properties in South Carolina, but you also get a lot more for your money than you do in major metropolitan areas or the notoriously costly states in the Northeast. And there are lots of hidden gems. “You just have to know where to look,” Stone says.
Educational opportunities
South Carolina’s overall education ranking is not stellar (World Population Review ranked South Carolina’s schools 38th in 2024), but there are plenty of districts that are competitive, and things are getting better. Stone told us that Charleston County School District’s superintendent has been steadily raising teachers’ salaries, and that next year’s starting salary will be $65,000, which will help with teacher recruitment and retention.
And Galbreath-Gonzalez says South Carolina’s higher-education network is stronger than many realize. “Clemson and USC have national reputations for academics and athletics, and MUSC is one of the leading medical and research institutions in the Southeast,” she says. “Add in respected schools like the College of Charleston, Furman, Wofford, Coastal Carolina, The Citadel, Winthrop and USC Beaufort, and families see long-term opportunity here.”
Cultural vibrancy
South Carolina is known for music, food and that signature Lowcountry culture, and nods to the diverse history of the state are everywhere. “Gullah-Geechee culture is the main contributor to the beautifully unique experience of living in coastal South Carolina,” Stone says.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission is a nonprofit that works with the U.S. National Park Service to preserve and promote the unique culture, history and natural resources of the Gullah Geechee people. The organization offers events with lively music, traditional food, arts, crafts and storytelling, ensuring that this vital part of South Carolina’s history isn’t lost.
Galbreath-Gonzalez says that as the region grows, the cultural opportunities expand. “We’re seeing more concerts, festivals, sporting events and arts programming every year,” she says.
The location is great
“This area really is for nature lovers,” Stone says. “You can be on the ocean or the marsh, and then in a few hours you can be exploring in the mountains.” Overall, South Carolina is well situated in the country, and popular spots like Charleston and Myrtle Beach have small but busy airports that can get you where you want or need to be.
Many new residents tell Galbreath-Gonzalez they vacationed in South Carolina long before they considered living there. “Whether it was Myrtle Beach, Charleston or Hilton Head, the connection usually starts early,” she says. But don’t overlook less well-known places: “Border regions like Fort Mill, Greenville, Lake Wylie and Rock Hill offer access to major metros with South Carolina’s pace and affordability,” Galbreath-Gonzalez says.
Southern hospitality
The pace in South Carolina is definitely slow, but Stone says it’s getting faster every day with so many new residents. The Southern hospitality is a draw, she says. “You don’t even know you crave it until you’ve experienced it.”
“The true hallmark of a Southern gentleman or woman is making people feel comfortable and welcome,” Stone says, adding that everyone is welcome in South Carolina, but she hopes the place never gets so big and busy that it loses the warmth and friendliness that’s embedded in the fabric of the place.
Where else are people moving?
While South Carolina has a six-year lock on the top spot people are moving to, other places in the U.S. are experiencing serious growth, and only half are in the Sun Belt. Here’s the full top 10 list:
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Idaho
- Alaska
- Tennessee
- Maine
- Delaware
- South Dakota
- Alabama
- Arkansas
What state is seeing the most people leave?
More people are leaving California than any other state—it has a 0.63 in-to-out move ratio, though New Jersey isn’t far behind, with a 0.64 ratio. These states have been the top exit states since 2020, primarily due to high housing costs and property taxes, as well as grueling, lengthy commutes. Connecticut and New York are also losing residents faster than they can attract new ones.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jessica Hazzard Stone, Realtor at Carolina One Real Estate; phone interview, November 2025
- Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, broker-in-charge at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty; email interview, November 2025
- MoveBuddha: “2025 Moving Trends Report: Where are Americans looking to move right now?”
- U.S. Census Bureau: “Sun Belt Cities and Towns Led Nation in Population Growth”
- Britannica: “Sun Belt”
- World Population Review: “Public School Rankings by State 2025”
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