January 13, 2026

Alabama Breaks Top 10 States Where People Are Moving To

By Isabella Gomez
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

January 13, 2026

ALABAMA According to a new list ranking states where people moved to the most in 2025, Alabama hit the top 10!

Texas came in first place, and our state ranked ninth, up seven spots from the 2024 ranking according to U-Haul’s Growth Index which tracks one-way moves from customers across the country.

According to U-Haul, Alabama had a 50.3% in-migration which was just enough to earn a spot in the top 10. The top of the index was dominated by states in the southeast.

The top 10 states included:

Texas

Florida

North Carolina

Tennessee

South Carolina

Washington

Arizona

Idaho

Alabama

Georgia

U-Haul ranks states by their net gain (or loss) of customers who rented a one-way truck, trailer or U-Box moving containers in one state and dropped off their equipment in another state.

The company says its Growth Index is compiled from over 2.5 million annual one-way transactions across the U.S. and Canada.

While rankings may not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is said to be an effective gauge of how well states, metros and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.

After three Alabama cities made U-Haul’s top 25 list last year, just one remained on the list in 2025.

Auburn, which ranked 12th last year, is back on the list at No. 17 this year. It was one of just 8 cities from last year’s top 25 to reappear on the index this year.