The Carolinas emerge as new population boom states. Affordability and lifestyle drive growth

The Carolinas Emerge as America’s New Migration Hotspots, Surpassing Florida and Texas

Move over Florida and Texas. The United States has new hotspots for population growth, with North and South Carolina taking center stage in the latest demographic shifts across the country.

North Carolina attracted more new residents from other parts of the country than any other state last year, drawing 84,000 domestic migrants. This distinction was previously held by Texas in 2024 and Florida in the two years before that. Meanwhile, South Carolina recorded the nation’s highest overall growth rate at 1.5%, a title Florida claimed just a year earlier, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau figures.

The changing migration patterns reflect significant shifts in Americans’ preferences for where to settle. Domestic migration to Texas slowed considerably, with the state attracting 67,300 new residents from within the U.S. – barely ahead of South Carolina’s 66,600 domestic arrivals.

Florida’s appeal appears to be diminishing, as the nation’s third most populous state dropped to eighth place for state-to-state migration. More U.S. residents now prefer alternative destinations, including neighboring Alabama.

This shift is exemplified by former Floridians like Sabrina Morley and Steven Devereaux, who sold their Tampa-area home last year and relocated to Spain. Despite fond memories of growing up in Florida during the 1990s, the couple cited concerns about rising costs, school safety issues, education quality, and political divisiveness as reasons for their departure. With a daughter expected this spring, Devereaux explained, “We think where we are now, it’s the best decision we could make to give any future children the best quality of life.”

North Carolina state demographer Michael Cline attributes his state’s surge in popularity to several factors that distinguish it from traditional migration magnets. “North Carolina is attracting younger folks because we have so many nice areas – the mountains and beaches and lakes in between,” Cline noted. He also highlighted the state’s high-paying jobs in banking and technology, along with its more moderately sized urban centers compared to Florida and Texas.

These population shifts carry significant implications for the nation’s economic and political landscape. Growing states benefit from increased tax revenue, economic dynamism, and demand for goods and services. The changes also foreshadow potential redistribution of political power after the 2030 census, with certain states gaining or losing representation in Congress and the Electoral College.

Demographic experts point to changing migration drivers in the coming years. With the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown contributing to reduced international migration, domestic movement within the United States will play an increasingly important role in determining which states grow or decline. According to the Congressional Budget Office, without sustained immigration, the U.S. population will begin shrinking within five years as deaths outpace births.

Despite their comparative year-over-year slowdown in domestic migration, Texas and Florida still recorded the highest overall population growth in absolute numbers – 391,000 and 196,000 respectively. Both states benefited from international migration, while Texas also saw births outpacing deaths. These states experienced exceptional growth early in the decade, when pandemic-era lockdowns and remote work opportunities prompted many Americans to relocate to areas with fewer coronavirus restrictions.

“The sharp domestic migrations they observed during the pandemic have now petered out, especially for Florida, at the same time that immigration is being diminished,” explained Brookings demographer William Frey.

Demographers in Florida and Texas have offered various explanations for the shifting trends, though some question the precision of the Census Bureau’s migration statistics. Richard Doty, a research demographer at the University of Florida, suggested that Florida’s dramatic drop in domestic migration – from nearly 319,000 people in 2022 to just 22,500 in 2025 – might stem from rising costs, hurricane concerns, and employers’ return-to-office mandates.

“The cost of housing, in particular, is driving young people and retirees to other states,” Doty noted. “Also, insurance is higher in Florida than most other states.”

When asked about the decline, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s press secretary emphasized that Florida experienced a significant influx during the pandemic and remains a top-ranked place to live.

As the migration landscape continues to evolve, the Carolinas’ emergence as growth leaders signals a potential long-term shift in America’s demographic center of gravity, with profound implications for regional economies, housing markets, and political representation in the years ahead.