Wilmington once again tops study of top destinations for movers in USA

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – For the second time in three years, Wilmington, North Carolina topped metro areas across the country when it came to where Americans moved in 2024, according to a study by United Van Lines.

The company released its 48th Annual Movers Study this week, with Wilmington topping the list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas with an 83% of moves being inbound and 17% outbound, ahead of Springfield (Missouri), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) and Flagstaff (Arizona). You can see the list of highest-ranking cities by clicking here to visit the United Van Lines website. Wilmington also topped the same study in 2022.

When it comes to the most popular states seeing more inbound moves, the UVL study found “..West Virginia was the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration (66%), among states experiencing more than 250 moves* with United Van Lines”, according to a news release. North Carolina came in at #5 for most inbound moves. For the seventh year in a row, the study lists New Jersey with having more residents than any other state moving out, at 67% outbound.

According to the news release, the 2024 study “…shows for the first time in decades, the primary driver for moving interstate was a desire to be closer to family (28%)” than other reasons.

Copyright 2025 WECT. All rights reserved.