According to a recent survey by the biggest do-it-yourself moving firm in America, more people relocated to Texas than any other state in 2025.
According to the growth index, which compares yearly in-migration figures, Texas came in first place on Monday. The business monitored one-way consumer transactions in all 50 states, including those involving trucks, trailers, and U-Boxes.
Top Texas cities in 2025
The company’s 2025 list of expanding metro areas had three cities in Texas at the top. Austin, Dallas, and Houston all took successive lead positions. The metro area of Brownsville and McAllen also made an appearance on the list, coming in at number 10.
McKinney, Texas, ranked sixth on the list of rising cities for 2025.
The moving firm stated, “The Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well states, metros, and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, even though rankings may not directly correlate to population or economic growth.”
According to the U.S. Census, Texas is the second most populous state in the country, and it continues to grow at one of the highest rates. Over 265,000 out-of-state residents relocated to Texas in 2025.
Cypress, New Braunfels, Leander, Katy, McKinney, and San Antonio were among the top 10 Texas cities on MovingPlace’s list of the most popular zip codes last year.
Along with a number of other Texas communities, Leander, San Marcos, and Conroe were listed highly on U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Fastest Growing Places for 2025–2026.
Factors moving to Texas
A person’s decision to relocate is typically influenced by elements including safety, recreation, and affordability. According to a recent poll, citizens of the United States and Canada referred to Texas as “the place that ticks all the boxes” in 2025.
The Lone Star State is the top destination for in-state migration, meaning that more people are relocating there than out, according to data from the moving and storage business U-Haul. The information is derived from the entity’s Growth Index, which was made public on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The net gain (or loss) of consumers using one-way U-Haul equipment in each of the 50 states was ranked by researchers in 2025. According to the study, Texas was responsible for 50.7% of the company’s over 2.5 million transports. Orders from the United States and Canada were taken into consideration.
Other popular locations
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The Southeast continued to be a busy area beyond the Texas line.
With 12 of the top 25 growing cities, Florida is still at the top of the “city proper” category.
High numbers of DIY movers arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina (the No. 4 metro) and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (the No. 3 city).
Significantly, the 2025 data revealed a revival for big cities like Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. These markets saw significant net gains this year after experiencing net losses in 2024.
Metros: a stronghold in Texas
According to the most recent U-Haul Growth Index, Texas metro areas account for six of the top 25 growing metro areas and the top three positions (Dallas, Houston, and Austin).
Charlotte, Phoenix, Nashville, Charleston, Raleigh, Atlanta, and the Brownsville-McAllen corridor along Texas’ southern border are among the top ten metro areas for hiring do-it-yourself movers in 2025.
San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia witnessed more orange-clad moving equipment departing than entering in 2024, but they reported significant net-gain figures in 2025. These large metro areas reversed recent migration trends to join the top 25.
leader in the industry
Thanks to its vast network that covers all 50 states and ten Canadian provinces, Texas is the authority on migration trends. Unlike anybody else in the market, the geographic coverage from over 24,000 rental locations offers a thorough picture of where individuals are relocating.
Texas is a family-run, veteran-founded company that has been helping people move to better lives for 80 years. Its shared-use business model helps the environment.