United Van Lines’ 49th Annual National Movers Study on Dec. 29 showed more residents moved out of New Jersey than any other state, with the annual study reporting a 62.3% outbound migration — the eighth straight year the Garden State has led the nation in outmigration.
Though New Jersey is attracting younger professionals and families, it is losing retirees. The main reasons people are moving out of the state are family (25.5%) and retirement (25.2%).
New Jersey has ranked among the top 10 outbound for more than 15 years. However, 21% of inbound moves to New Jersey were movers aged 18-34, as the state is considered a “launch state” for younger families and those looking to start careers.
The Murphy administration has attempted to keep retirees from leaving the state. In his 2025 state of the state address, Gov. Phil Murphy addressed key issues affecting older New Jerseyans, such as property tax relief, RetireReady NJ (a public-private partnership that allows private-sector workers an affordable, voluntary and portable retirement savings program at work), reforming zoning laws to allow for more accessory dwelling units. The governor has also expressed his support for the Anchor tax credit, a program that provides property tax relief to eligible New Jersey residents who own or rent their homes.
The Northeast continued to experience significant outbound migration. Besides New Jersey, New York (58%) and Massachusetts (54.7%) were among the seven states with the highest percentage of outbound migration.
While major outbound states like New Jersey, New York and California still attract ambitious job seekers, they’re simultaneously losing more people motivated by retirement, affordability and lifestyle changes.
While the traditional population movement from colder North and Midwest regions to the warmer South and West regions continues, American migration patterns are primarily driven by the desire to be closer to family, followed by the job market.
“For most Americans, interstate relocation is no longer a linear calculation, it’s a complex decision balancing multiple competing factors,” Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in The Department of Public Policy at The University of California, Los Angeles said. “It is interesting to see that in general, population movement continues from North/Midwest regions to southern states – and again top inbound locations dominated by smaller to medium size metro areas. This reflects a legacy of COVID-era preferences for lower-density living, combined with the reality that housing costs continue to drive people toward more affordable regions.”
According to the results of the study, Oregon topped the list with the highest percentage of inbound migration (65%), moving up from no. 8 inbound in 2024. Oregon has emerged as a leading inbound destination for job-seeking migrants (36%) with opportunities in growing tech and health-care fields. The other top inbound migration states are West Virginia, South Carolina, Delaware and Minnesota.
