In the wake of the pandemic, the United States has experienced significant domestic migration shifts due to remote work, housing affordability and regional economic opportunities. In particular, Americans have flocked to warmer climates, expansive natural scenery and more affordable housing options, according to a Placer.ai study.
Mountain and Sun Belt states have seen the highest influx of new residents during this time, led by South Carolina, which drew newcomers equaling 3.6% of its January 2025 population. Idaho was next with a 3.4% net migration percentage of population, followed by Nevada, Montana, Florida, South Dakota, Wyoming, North Carolina and Tennessee. Texas also had a large number of newcomers, although its net migration was just 0.9% because of its large overall population.
Meanwhile, California, New York and Illinois experienced the greatest outflow of people relative to their populations, driven largely by soaring housing costs and the rise of remote work, according to the report.
Since the beginning of 2024, these broad patterns have persisted but at a slower pace, said Placer.ai. This could reflect the dampening effect of rising mortgage interest rates as well as the increased push for employees to return to the office. South Carolina and Idaho were slightly surpassed by North Dakota, where modest waves of newcomers make a big impact on the state’s smaller population base. The state offers affordable housing and a strong job market and benefits from the emerging presence of Microsoft and Amazon near Fargo.
Meanwhile, several states that struggled with outflow in the past – including Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, Ohio and Oregon – began showing minor positive inflow during the year. Placer.ai said that came as home affordability erodes in pandemic-era hot spots like the Mountain states and the Sun Belt, these areas may emerge as new destinations for Americans seeking a lower cost of living.
Residents leaving California and New York tend to settle in nearby states or in Florida, the study found. Among those leaving New York, 21% moved to New Jersey, 9% to Pennsylvania and 7% to Connecticut. Nearly 30% went to Florida. Those who left California also stayed nearby, with 11.5% moving to Nevada and 9% moving to Arizona. However, 19% moved to Texas and 8% moved to Florida.
In general, CBSA-level data also revealed a balancing domestic migration pattern, with cities that experienced notable outflows flattening considerably and those with strong positive net migration registering flat in-migration since the beginning of 2024. Miami, however, experienced substantial out-migration despite Florida’s status as a domestic migration magnet. Miami, the state’s most expensive housing market, lost 2.6% of its population to domestic net migration between 2020 and 2024 and another 1% between 2024 and 2025.
Of the ten largest CBSAs nationwide, only Phoenix continued to see a net domestic migration gain through 2024, highlighting its continued draw as a relocation hotspot.
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