As Americans grapple with the crippling cost of living crisis, some families have considered moving to more affordable states.
It is estimated that 8.2 million people will have moved from state to state by 2022 US Census data published last year, with many citing affordability and the ability to work remotely as driving factors in their relocation decisions.
Experts have now identified the states where natives are most likely to stay forever and the states where residents are eager to flee as quickly as possible.
Texas residents are likely to stay put, analysts at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas have revealed, followed by residents from North Carolina, Georgia, California and Utah.
But data shows that states like Wyoming, North Dakota and Alaska have the highest levels of outward migration, while less than half of their native populations remain in the state. Rhode Island and South Dakota have lost 55.2 and 54.2 percent of their native populations, respectively.
Experts have now identified the states where natives are most likely to stay forever and the states where residents are eager to flee as quickly as possible.
Although state-to-state migration has been on a downward trend over the past decade, the number of people moving domestically increased from 7.9 million to 8.2 million in 2022, U.S. Census Bureau data show.
Thirty-two states had inbound migration rates above 50 percent, with Texas and Florida posting the highest migration gains that year.
Most Americans who moved said they chose to move to a state where they could afford to buy a home, even if that state had fewer job opportunities.
Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas analyzed data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey last year to further determine which states were retaining residents and why.
According to the analysts, Texas had the largest population of native-born residents; 82 percent of people born in the state chose to stay there.
Texas has the largest population of native-born residents; 82 percent of people born in the state choose to stay there, U.S. Census analysis shows. Pictured: An aerial view of Austin, the capital of Texas
Wyoming has the lowest population of natives, according to analysts, with only 45.2 percent remaining in the state. Pictured: Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the largest reservoir in Wyoming
North Carolina, Georgia, California and Utah have retained 75.5 percent, 74.2 percent, 73 percent and 72.9 percent of their native populations, respectively.
These five states recorded above-average job growth between 2010 and 2019, and boast a total of 15 metropolitan areas with a population of more than 1 million people.
Four of the states mentioned above also have lower-than-average state and local tax burdens, which analysts say is attractive to residents.
On the contrary, Wyoming (45.2 percent), North Dakota (48.6 percent), Alaska (48.7 percent), Rhode Island (55.2 percent), and South Dakota (54.2 percent) have the lowest numbers of indigenous populations registered.
These states also have the highest levels of emigration of all residents, not just natives.
In addition to economic benefits, experts say there are also “emotional factors” that contribute to a person’s decision whether or not to leave their home state.
‘In places like Texas and North Carolina, many residents settle long-term. I think a lot of that is down to the strong sense of community and pride in where they come from,” travel expert Elaine Warren told DailyMail.com.
North Carolina retains 75.5 percent of its indigenous population. Experts say that, like Texas, North Carolina residents have a “strong sense of community and pride in where they come from.” Pictured: An aerial view of Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina
She added, “These states also balance jobs with traditions and family values — things that make people feel included.”
“On the other hand, states with larger departures may need to focus on making the place more livable. Sure, severe weather or fewer activities play a role, but building communities where people imagine their future is crucial.”
Warren, the founder and CEO of The Family Cruise Companion, says she often sees “similarities between travel and permanent moves.”
She claims that people tend to “draw to places that combine adventure, comfort and memory-making.”
She believes that while providing “practical benefits” such as affordable housing, city planners and policymakers should have the “goal” of “building communities where people feel at home now and in the long term.”