Carolinas Rise as Top States for Population Growth: Affordable Living and Lifestyle Appeal
Move over Florida and Texas. The United States has new hot spots for growth, and they both have Carolina in their name.
North Carolina attracted 84,000 new residents from other states last year, surpassing Texas, which held this title in 2024, and Florida, which held it for the two years prior. Meanwhile, South Carolina achieved the highest overall growth rate at 1.5%, a distinction previously held by Florida in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released recently.
Domestic migration, which refers to people moving within the U.S., slowed in Texas. The state saw only 67,300 domestic migrants, just edging out South Carolina’s 66,600.
The allure of Florida, the nation’s third most populous state, has diminished, dropping to No. 8 for state-to-state migration as more residents opt for other destinations, including Alabama.
Sabrina Morley and Steven Devereaux sold their Tampa-area home last year and relocated to Valencia, Spain. Reflecting on their childhoods in Florida during the 1990s, they cherished the state’s diversity and outdoor freedom. However, as they planned for a family, concerns about rising costs, school safety, educational quality, and political divisiveness led them to seek a new environment. They are expecting a daughter in the spring.
“I had a pretty good childhood, but I don’t think we’d be able to give our child the same quality of life because of the cost of living, food quality, and the prevalence of guns,” Devereaux remarked. “We believe our current location is the best decision for our future children’s quality of life.”
Younger Folks and Nice Areas
According to North Carolina state demographer Michael Cline, the state’s growth can be attributed to high-paying jobs in banking and tech, diverse landscapes, and smaller cities compared to Florida and Texas.
“North Carolina is attracting younger folks because we have so many appealing areas — the mountains, beaches, and lakes in between — making it attractive for remote workers,” Cline explained. “Our cities are not huge, which may also appeal to many.”
Last year’s demographic shifts are significant as population growth contributes to a larger taxpayer base, economic dynamism, and increased demand for goods and services. This trend may also influence the political landscape ahead of the 2030 census, potentially altering states’ representation in Congress and the Electoral College.
In the coming years, domestic migration will play a crucial role in states’ population dynamics. The Trump administration’s immigration policies have significantly reduced foreign migration, which had previously been a primary growth driver for many states.
Without immigration growth, the U.S. population is projected to begin shrinking in five years as deaths outnumber births, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Pandemic Boom Peters Out
Despite a year-over-year slowdown in domestic migration, Texas and Florida still recorded the highest overall growth in the U.S. last year, with Texas gaining 391,000 people and Florida 196,000.
In Florida, this growth was largely fueled by international migration, while Texas benefited from both international migration and a higher birth rate. Both states experienced a surge during the early pandemic years as remote work allowed residents from other states to relocate to areas with fewer restrictions.
“The sharp domestic migrations observed during the pandemic have now diminished, particularly in Florida, coinciding with a decline in immigration,” noted Brookings demographer William Frey.
Demographers in Florida and Texas expressed skepticism about the Census Bureau’s migration figures, which are notoriously difficult to track due to their variability. The bureau relies on IRS data and the American Community Survey, which lags by a year.
Richard Doty, a research demographer at the University of Florida, mentioned that the Bureau of Economic and Business Research employs a different method for calculating growth, using electrical customer data.
Several factors may explain Florida’s drop in domestic migration from nearly 319,000 people in 2022 to just 22,500 in 2025. Doty suggested that rising housing costs, a series of hurricanes, and return-to-office mandates could be contributing factors.
“The cost of housing is particularly driving young people and retirees to other states,” he added. “Insurance rates in Florida are also higher than in many other states.”
In response to the decline, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Molly Best, emphasized that Florida experienced a significant influx of new residents during the pandemic and remains a highly desirable place to live.
While Texas continues to grow economically, other external factors also influence migration patterns, according to Texas state demographer Lloyd Potter.
“If jobs are plentiful, living is affordable, and the overall quality of life is good, people will be less inclined to seek opportunities elsewhere,” Potter stated.
Photo: Independence Park under the skyline of Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Move over Florida and Texas. The United States has new hot spots for growth, and they both have Carolina in their name.
North Carolina attracted 84,000 new residents from other states last year, surpassing Texas, which held this title in 2024, and Florida, which held it for the two years prior. Meanwhile, South Carolina achieved the highest overall growth rate at 1.5%, a distinction previously held by Florida in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released recently.
Domestic migration, which refers to people moving within the U.S., slowed in Texas. The state saw only 67,300 domestic migrants, just edging out South Carolina’s 66,600.
The allure of Florida, the nation’s third most populous state, has diminished, dropping to No. 8 for state-to-state migration as more residents opt for other destinations, including Alabama.
Sabrina Morley and Steven Devereaux sold their Tampa-area home last year and relocated to Valencia, Spain. Reflecting on their childhoods in Florida during the 1990s, they cherished the state’s diversity and outdoor freedom. However, as they planned for a family, concerns about rising costs, school safety, educational quality, and political divisiveness led them to seek a new environment. They are expecting a daughter in the spring.
“I had a pretty good childhood, but I don’t think we’d be able to give our child the same quality of life because of the cost of living, food quality, and the prevalence of guns,” Devereaux remarked. “We believe our current location is the best decision for our future children’s quality of life.”
Younger Folks and Nice Areas
According to North Carolina state demographer Michael Cline, the state’s growth can be attributed to high-paying jobs in banking and tech, diverse landscapes, and smaller cities compared to Florida and Texas.
“North Carolina is attracting younger folks because we have so many appealing areas — the mountains, beaches, and lakes in between — making it attractive for remote workers,” Cline explained. “Our cities are not huge, which may also appeal to many.”
Last year’s demographic shifts are significant as population growth contributes to a larger taxpayer base, economic dynamism, and increased demand for goods and services. This trend may also influence the political landscape ahead of the 2030 census, potentially altering states’ representation in Congress and the Electoral College.
In the coming years, domestic migration will play a crucial role in states’ population dynamics. The Trump administration’s immigration policies have significantly reduced foreign migration, which had previously been a primary growth driver for many states.
Without immigration growth, the U.S. population is projected to begin shrinking in five years as deaths outnumber births, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Pandemic Boom Peters Out
Despite a year-over-year slowdown in domestic migration, Texas and Florida still recorded the highest overall growth in the U.S. last year, with Texas gaining 391,000 people and Florida 196,000.
In Florida, this growth was largely fueled by international migration, while Texas benefited from both international migration and a higher birth rate. Both states experienced a surge during the early pandemic years as remote work allowed residents from other states to relocate to areas with fewer restrictions.
“The sharp domestic migrations observed during the pandemic have now diminished, particularly in Florida, coinciding with a decline in immigration,” noted Brookings demographer William Frey.
Demographers in Florida and Texas expressed skepticism about the Census Bureau’s migration figures, which are notoriously difficult to track due to their variability. The bureau relies on IRS data and the American Community Survey, which lags by a year.
Richard Doty, a research demographer at the University of Florida, mentioned that the Bureau of Economic and Business Research employs a different method for calculating growth, using electrical customer data.
Several factors may explain Florida’s drop in domestic migration from nearly 319,000 people in 2022 to just 22,500 in 2025. Doty suggested that rising housing costs, a series of hurricanes, and return-to-office mandates could be contributing factors.
“The cost of housing is particularly driving young people and retirees to other states,” he added. “Insurance rates in Florida are also higher than in many other states.”
In response to the decline, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Molly Best, emphasized that Florida experienced a significant influx of new residents during the pandemic and remains a highly desirable place to live.
While Texas continues to grow economically, other external factors also influence migration patterns, according to Texas state demographer Lloyd Potter.
“If jobs are plentiful, living is affordable, and the overall quality of life is good, people will be less inclined to seek opportunities elsewhere,” Potter stated.
Photo: Independence Park under the skyline of Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
