More Data Showing Outflow of People from Illinois

With 2024 behind us U-Haul released their annual “Growth Index” of states people are moving to.

The list includes all fifty states, with Illinois amongst familiar states near the bottom (again). California ranked 50^th with the largest net loss of people moving out. Remember this is just data from U-Haul in regards to people moving themselves to and from states, it’s not a comprehensive look at total migration.

Get our free mobile app

Included in the bottom five states along with California are: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The Land of Lincoln sits at 6^th worst, which is an improvement from recent years. In 2023 Illinois ranked 48^th and in 2022, 2021 and 2020– Illinois was ranked 49^th. In both 2019 and 2018 Illinois was last in growth (50^th). So, there is improvement from then to now if only in percentages.

However, a deeper dive into the numbers over the last decade shows that there have been exactly ZERO years where U-Haul had more people moving TO Illinois than FROM.

The out-migration issue is ironically an ongoing problem in Illinois as those remaining now have a larger percentage of the state’s debt placed upon them. This is reflected in growing property taxes, increased state fees and larger fines.

What states are people moving to? This year South Carolina had more people using U-Haul to move there. Followed by the regulars: Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee making up the top five states for inbound movers. Many former Illinois residents now call any one of those states "home".