EVANSVILLE, IND. (Dec. 5, 2024) — Atlas® Van Lines has released its 2024 Migration Patterns Study. Conducted annually, the study measures Atlas customers’ interstate, interprovince, and international moves. This year’s study measures relocations from Nov. 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2024, to gauge where people moved from and where they moved to.

New for 2024, Atlas also conducted a survey of consumers who recently relocated to gain insight into the motivations behind their moves. The survey of 1,135 people in August 2024 revealed three distinct reasons consumers moved: for work, to be closer to friends and family, and for affordability.

“In past years, the Migration Patterns Study told us where Atlas customers moved, but not necessarily why,” said Ryan McConnell, President and COO of Atlas Van Lines. “Atlas’ 2024 study and survey data provides insight into why some people moved where they did – or where they didn’t.”

2024 Data

The Migration Patterns Study aligns with Census Bureau data indicating interstate moves are holding steady. This year shows the highest number of “balanced” states in the last five years, meaning a relatively even number of people are moving in as moving out. Combined with the lowest number of outbound states in over five years indicates many people may not be moving at all, likely an impact of the “lock-in effect” that disincentivizes homeowners to move and drives housing prices up.

When consumers do move, the majority do so for work. In 2024, this corresponds with companies’ increasing mandates requiring employees to return to the office full-time. RTO mandates from Fortune 500 companies such as Walmart, CVS, and Amazon coincide with the top inbound states of Arkansas, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Moving to be closer to friends and family and affordability were also cited as high motivations to move. Three of the most populous and expensive states to live in – California, Illinois, and New York – were on this year’s outbound list. Illinois and New York have remained firmly on the outbound list for over five years, but California was balanced from 2022 to 2024. Its return to the outbound list, when so many other states are balanced, is noteworthy. Meanwhile, North Carolina has been on the inbound list for over a decade.

Canadian Provinces

Per Atlas® Van Lines Canada data, outbound provinces are centrally located, while inbound provinces are located in the north and east. The top three inbound regions were Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, whereas the top three outbound provinces were Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec.

Meanwhile, Atlas® World Group International reported the following trends in overseas relocation:

Methodology

Each state’s, province’s, and country’s inbound/outbound status is determined by its threshold value, which is the total number of shipments multiplied by 0.55 (i.e., in a state with 100 moves, at least 55 must be outgoing to be considered outbound). All other states or provinces in which outbound or inbound numbers do not exceed the threshold are classified as balanced. Canadian interprovincial and cross-border (from the U.S. to Canada) shipments are both referenced in the study.

In August 2024, Atlas surveyed 1,135 consumers who had moved in the past three years, either on their own or with a moving service. Results show that 32% moved for a new job, 25% moved to be closer to friends or family, and 10% moved for affordability reasons. The remaining 33% cited reasons that include climate/weather, safety, relationship changes, education, retirement, or health reasons.

To view the full results of the 2024 Migration Patterns Study, along with a nationwide map, regional trends, and historical data, visit www.atlasvanlines.com/resources/migration-patterns.

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About Atlas® Van Lines

Atlas Van Lines, Inc., a national moving company, is the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group, Inc., an Evansville, Indiana-based company. Atlas World Group companies employ over 600 people throughout North America. More than 200 Atlas interstate moving Agents in the United States and Canada specialize in corporate relocation, household moving services, and in the specialized transportation of high-value items such as electronics, fine art, store fixtures, and furniture. For more information, visit www.atlasvanlines.com.