(The Center Square) – In 2024, Michiganders continued to move out of the state in large numbers.
This is according to U-Haul’s 2024 Growth Index, which tracks the growth rankings of all 50 states.
Despite ranking 43rd for net losses, that’s better than Michigan has ranked in past years. In 2023, the index listed Michigan 46th.
The report’s growth rankings are configured by each state’s net gain (or loss) of customers utilizing one-way U-Haul equipment in a calendar year. In 2024, well over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box moving container transactions occurred.
“Out-migration remains prevalent for a number of markets across the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast — and particularly California,” said John Taylor, U-Haul international president.
California ranked 50th for the fifth year in a row.
Other Midwest states like Minnesota, Ohio and Indiana seem immune from the out-migration affecting Michigan, with Minnesota ranking 18th, Ohio ranking 14th, and Indiana ranking 8th.
Continuing the trend of past years, Southern states saw the largest net gains with South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee leading.
Yet, while the index reported a net loss for Michigan, data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2024 found that Michigan had a gain in population over the past year.
That population growth was largely driven by international migration, as the Bureau improved its methodology to better estimate the number of international migrants in the state.
A mid-year report from U-Haul also looked at migration to and from the United States’ 25 most-populated states.
Chicago, Columbus, and Indianapolis all saw many of its migrants coming from Michigan. In contrast, Detroit saw the largest migration from Ohio, Florida, and Illinois.
