It feels like something out of a movie—an “escape from New York,” really.
The once-popular dream of thriving in New York City seems to be fading away.
This year, more people are leaving New York and New Jersey than from any other states, as they seek new opportunities in the South and the Pacific Northwest, according to the United Van Lines 2025 National Movers Survey.
For the eighth consecutive year, New Jersey leads the way, with 62% of its residents moving out, closely followed by New York at 58%.
United Van Lines indicates that this trend reflects a significant change in American migration patterns, driven largely by a need to be near family—29%—and job prospects at 26%.
“Interstate relocation has become less straightforward for most Americans; it’s now a nuanced decision influenced by various factors,” noted Michael A. Stoll, an economist and public policy professor at UCLA.
He pointed out that this trend is part of a growing preference for “low-density living,” which gained traction during the pandemic when many New Yorkers sought refuge in quieter spaces in Texas and Florida.
The survey, which has been running since 1977, analyzes moves within the contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., based on household relocations covered by the UniGroup network.
The rankings reflect the ratio of incoming and outgoing moves in each state.
New Jersey earned the title of the most abandoned state, as younger individuals usually move there to start anew, while older residents reportedly leave en masse once they retire.
Similar dynamics apply in New York, where ambitious job seekers are still arriving, yet the state faces losses due to factors like retirement, affordability issues, and shifting lifestyles.
This relocation trend comes after a considerable number of Gotham residents expressed intentions to leave if the socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani were elected mayor, potentially leading to a historic exodus.
The challenge of rising costs in Manhattan is well-known, with average rents hitting new heights recently.
In third place, somewhat expectedly, is California (58%), which also grapples with high inflation and unemployment, issues that are often attributed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s progressive policies.
Top outbound states in 2025:
- New Jersey
- New York
- California
- North Dakota
- Colorado
- Mississippi
- Massachusetts
Where are these movers headed? West, it seems.
Oregon leads as the most desired destination (65%), reminiscent of the historic trails.
This migration surge is fueled by Oregon’s appeal for newcomers (36%) attracted to its expanding high-tech and healthcare sectors.
Following closely are West Virginia (62%) and South Carolina (61%), demonstrating that it’s not only birds that migrate south for the winter.
According to United Van Lines, this trend illustrates a widespread movement towards smaller cities and towns where housing costs are more manageable, away from the hustle of big metropolitan areas.
“The data clearly indicates that Americans are after a different lifestyle pace, and places like Oregon, the Carolinas, and the South seem to be catering to that,” commented Eilee Cummings, vice president of corporate communications for United Van Lines.
Top inbound states in 2025:
- Oregon
- West Virginia
- South Carolina
- Delaware
- Minnesota
- Idaho
- North Carolina
- Arkansas
- Alabama
- Nevada
