CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Notice some new faces in the neighborhood or moving vans last year? United Van Lines said that's because the Carolinas were a popular destination for people to call home in 2022.
The moving company shared the results of its 46th annual National Movers Study, which found 61% of inbound migration in both North Carolina and South Carolina. The state that welcomed the most amount of new neighbors was Vermont, with 77% of inbound migration.
So, where are people moving from? United Van Lines said its data found that New Jersey has the highest rate of people leaving, with a 67% outbound migration rate. That percentage is down from a five-year trend of 70% outbound migration. Wyoming and Pennsylvania also had more people move away last year.
What is the demographic makeup of the people who chose to move states in 2022? According to United Van Lines, Baby Boomers and Gen Xers moved more than any other age group, with Americans aged 55 and older accounting for more than 55% of all inbound moves last year. As far as why people moved, 35% of moving Americans wanted to be closer to family, 33% got a new job or a job transfer and 20% moved for retirement.
United Van Lines notes the desire to be near family remains a primary driving factor post-COVID, while new jobs or transfers are a decreasingly common driver post-pandemic. In fact, almost 31% of all moving families inbound to both North Carolina and South Carolina in 2022 did so to be closer to loved ones.
Oregon, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. were among the top areas welcoming new neighbors in 2022. Alabama also was part of a trend of southeastern states with a high percentage of inbound migration.
Meanwhile, U-Haul says the Carolinas were among the top states to welcome new residents. Texas was the top state to attract new residents, followed by Florida. South Carolina ranked third, and North Carolina fourth. Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, and Idaho rounded out the company's top ten.
According to Gusto, a payroll company, Charlotte topped the list for job growth in 2022 with over 16% growth last year.
Danny Chavez, Chief Business Recruitment Officer at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, told WCNC, there could be more job growth in 2023.
"The quality of life that we can give here, with the trails, mountains, beach, everything that comes along being in the Carolinas, in the temperate weather climate, it means a lot," Chavez said.
Organizations, including the ACC, which announced its move to the Queen City in fall of 2022, value things like infrastructure when considering such a move.
"The fifth busiest airport in the world is 15 minutes away from Uptown Charlotte," Chavez said. "That is an incredible feat. Anywhere else, you're driving 30 miles away, just to be able to get to an airport of that scale."
According to Atrium Health, 11,500 jobs will be created in the Charlotte Metro over the next 15 years because of the "Pearl Innovation District" in Midtown.
"These are investments we need to make," Chavez said. "We have, not only next generation space, but we perform extremely well in the age group of 20 to 27."
He said with such a talent pool attracted to industries of the future, like technology and science, will add up to substantial growth in Charlotte over the next 10 years.