Where Are People Moving in June 2026? (moveBuddha Data)
Fact Checked by: In-to-out ratio · moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
(Updated: July 2026)
Where People Are Moving in June 2026:
- South Carolina is the #1 state for inbound moves in June 2026, with a 3.09 in-to-out ratio, the highest of any state with meaningful search volume.
- Florida leads by raw demand, capturing 33% of all net inbound move searches in June. No other state is close.
- Nevada jumped to a near-tie with Florida, posting a 2.14 ratio versus Florida’s 2.16. Idaho also surged to #4 at 1.56, and Georgia entered the top 10 for the first time.
- North Carolina holds at #6 with a 1.41 ratio. Charlotte remains in the top 10 cities, though Raleigh and Cary fell off the city rankings this month.
- Connecticut leads the exit states with a 0.36 ratio. New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Missouri are new entrants to the bottom 10, while Iowa and D.C. fell below the volume threshold.
- Columbus, Ohio tops the exit city list with a 12:1 outbound-to-inbound ratio, the most lopsided city ratio in June.
- Florida dominates the top city rankings. Ocala, Tampa, Miami, and Orlando all rank in the top 10 for inbound city searches, with Ocala posting the strongest ratio of any city in the country.
June is peak moving season, and this year’s searchers are sending a clear signal: they want the South, and they want value.
We analyzed interstate move searches made through moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator during June 2026 to find out which states and cities are drawing the most attention from prospective movers, and which ones people are leaving behind.
Here’s what the data shows.
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Top 10 most popular states to move to in June 2026
We compared the rate of inbound move searches (destination state) against outbound searches (origin state) to calculate each state’s in-to-out ratio. A ratio above 1.0 means more people are searching to move in than out.
| State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. South Carolina | 3.09 |
| 2. Florida | 2.16 |
| 3. Nevada | 2.14 |
| 4. Idaho | 1.56 |
| 5. Georgia | 1.41 |
| 6. North Carolina | 1.41 |
| 7. Alabama | 1.40 |
| 8. Tennessee | 1.25 |
| 9. Texas | 1.24 |
| 10. Maryland | 1.19 |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
South Carolina is June 2026’s most in-demand state
South Carolina leads all states in June with a 3.09 in-to-out ratio, the highest of any state with a meaningful search volume this month.
That’s not a fluke. South Carolina has built a durable case for itself: no state income tax on Social Security, relatively low property taxes, a stretch of coastline that includes Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, and home prices that still look affordable compared to the Northeast metros many movers are leaving.
The state has been a consistent top-10 destination in moveBuddha data for years. In June, it moved to the front of the pack.
Florida still wins on raw volume, by a wide margin
South Carolina may lead on ratio, but Florida leads on everything else. The state’s net inbound demand in June was more than double that of any other state.
Florida accounts for 33% of all net inbound move searches in June 2026. Texas is second at 12.0%, followed by South Carolina at 10.6% and North Carolina at 9.2%. Together, those four states capture roughly two-thirds of all net inbound demand. Nevada’s surge to 7.4% is notable, nearly doubling its share from recent months as more movers target Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
| State | Share of Net Inbound Demand |
|---|---|
| Florida | 33.2% |
| Texas | 12.0% |
| South Carolina | 10.6% |
| North Carolina | 9.2% |
| Nevada | 7.4% |
| Georgia | 6.5% |
| Tennessee | 3.2% |
| Idaho | 2.3% |
| Maryland | 1.8% |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
No state income tax (Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas), warm climates, and housing markets that still offer viable paths to ownership are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. The pattern holds from month to month: movers are chasing affordability plus lifestyle, and the Sun Belt keeps delivering both.
Nevada: a surge that nearly matched Florida
Nevada’s #3 ranking with a 2.14 ratio is one of the bigger stories in June’s data. The state posted nearly the same ratio as Florida (2.16), which is unusual. Nevada doesn’t typically run that close to the perennial leader. Las Vegas is driving most of that activity, with a 1.5 in-to-out ratio on its own.
The draw is familiar: no state income tax, lower cost of living than neighboring California, and a job market that’s broadened well beyond hospitality in recent years. For California movers, Nevada is a short, affordable exit, and June’s data suggests more of them are taking it.
Top 10 least popular states to move to in June 2026
The states with the lowest in-to-out ratios in June show some notable shifts from prior months. Connecticut leads at 0.36, the worst ratio of any state with significant search volume, followed by New Jersey (0.52). New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Missouri are new entrants to the bottom 10 this month. Iowa and D.C. had fewer total searches than the minimum threshold required for inclusion, and California’s ratio improved enough that it no longer ranks among the 10 lowest.
| State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Connecticut | 0.36 |
| 2. New Jersey | 0.52 |
| 3. New Mexico | 0.60 |
| 4. Pennsylvania | 0.61 |
| 5. Oklahoma | 0.62 |
| 6. Michigan | 0.63 |
| 7. Wisconsin | 0.67 |
| 8. Virginia | 0.68 |
| 9. Missouri | 0.70 |
| 10. New York | 0.73 |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
Connecticut and New Jersey: high taxes, high costs, and residents heading out
Connecticut is the clearest outbound signal in June, with more than 2.5 outbound searches for every 1 inbound. It has some of the highest property taxes in the country, and housing in Fairfield County has long priced out many middle-income households. New Jersey follows the same story: high taxes, high costs, and corporate flight from the state has reduced the job market pull that once kept residents rooted.
New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Missouri: new faces in the exit group
New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Missouri are new entrants to the bottom 10 this month, replacing Iowa, D.C., and California, which fell below the volume threshold or improved their ratios. New Mexico’s appearance is consistent with broader Mountain West trends: affordability gains in neighboring states like Arizona and Colorado are drawing residents out. Wisconsin and Missouri, both mid-tier Midwest metros, are seeing more outbound interest as movers look toward Sun Belt options. California no longer ranks in the formal bottom 10 after removing paid searches from the dataset, though it still generated more outbound than inbound searches in June. The state’s exits remain high-volume, just less lopsided than in prior months.
Virginia: part of a broader mid-Atlantic softening
Virginia appearing at #8 reflects a theme that’s shown up in earlier moveBuddha data: federal workforce uncertainty and the shifting pull of the D.C. metro are nudging people toward re-evaluating the region. Virginia still has a lot going for it, but in June, more people used the calculator to leave than to arrive.
Top 10 most popular cities to move to in June 2026
At the city level, Florida dominates the top of the inbound list. Four of the top 10 cities by in-to-out ratio are in Florida, with Texas, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Indiana rounding out the rest. Cary and Raleigh, which ranked #2 and #3 last month, fell off the list entirely this month, a notable shift in the Carolinas story.
| City, State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Ocala, FL | 8.0 |
| 2. Tampa, FL | 7.0 |
| 3. Fort Worth, TX | 3.0 |
| 4. Miami, FL | 3.0 |
| 5. Colorado Springs, CO | 2.33 |
| 6. Virginia Beach, VA | 2.0 |
| 7. Orlando, FL | 1.86 |
| 8. Charlotte, NC | 1.83 |
| 9. Jersey City, NJ | 1.75 |
| 10. Indianapolis, IN | 1.75 |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
Ocala, Florida: Central Florida’s most in-demand relocation market
Ocala, FL tops the city list in June with an 8.0 in-to-out ratio. Ocala has emerged as one of Central Florida’s most talked-about relocation markets over the past two years, drawing retirees and remote workers priced out of Orlando and Tampa. It sits within driving distance of both coasts, has no state income tax, and its median home price is roughly half of what Tampa buyers face.
Tampa, Orlando, and the broader Florida surge
Tampa at #2 and Orlando at #7 join Ocala and Miami to give Florida four of the top 10 city slots in June. Tampa has become a go-to destination for Northeast movers looking for job-market depth, no state income tax, and a metro area large enough to offer city amenities. Orlando continues to draw a mix of retirees, young families, and remote workers, a broader demographic than its theme-park reputation suggests. Four cities in the top 10 from one state is uncommon, and it reinforces why Florida’s statewide ratio (2.16) remains so high even with such volume behind it.
Virginia Beach: the mid-Atlantic standout
Virginia Beach at #6 is the surprise name on the city list. The market drew more than twice as many inbound searches as outbound, reflecting growing interest from the D.C. metro and broader mid-Atlantic corridor. Lower housing costs relative to Northern Virginia, proximity to military installations, and a coastal lifestyle have made it an underrated relocation option for movers who want out of the D.C. area without leaving the region entirely.
Charlotte: the Carolinas’ financial hub holds its ground
Charlotte at #8 is notable in a month when Cary and Raleigh fell off the top-city list. The city has grown into one of the Southeast’s major financial and logistics hubs, and June’s data suggests that pull is more durable than other North Carolina markets.
Colorado Springs: affordable Front Range alternative
Colorado Springs at #5 continues to draw Front Range residents priced out of Denver. At roughly half the median home price of Denver, it attracts both military families (due to Fort Carson and Peterson Space Force Base) and remote workers looking to own rather than rent.
Top 10 exit cities in June 2026
| City, State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Columbus, OH | 0.08 |
| 2. Durham, NC | 0.25 |
| 3. Madison, WI | 0.33 |
| 4. St. Louis, MO | 0.42 |
| 5. Brooklyn, NY | 0.42 |
| 6. Pittsburgh, PA | 0.50 |
| 7. Washington, DC | 0.50 |
| 8. San Diego, CA | 0.55 |
| 9. Dallas, TX | 0.57 |
| 10. Portland, OR | 0.60 |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
Columbus, Ohio: the most lopsided exit ratio in June
Columbus, Ohio is the standout exit story in June with a 12:1 outbound-to-inbound ratio, the most imbalanced city ratio in the data. Columbus has seen significant layoff activity in recent months across its tech, finance, and logistics sectors, and that employment uncertainty appears to be showing up in move search behavior.
Brooklyn and Washington D.C.: urban exit pressure in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic
Brooklyn at #5 and Washington, D.C. at #7 are both new entrants to the exit city list this month. Brooklyn’s appearance reflects the continued price pressure in the New York metro. Residents are weighing mid-size Sun Belt cities against the carrying costs of staying. Washington D.C. fits the pattern from the state-level data: the federal workforce uncertainty and the broader D.C. regional softening are showing up at the city level as well.
San Diego and Dallas: different stories, same direction
San Diego at #8 is notable. California’s most expensive coastal market continues to generate more outbound interest than inbound, even as the state’s overall ratio improved this month. Dallas at #9 is a different kind of story. Dallas has been a top inbound state (Texas overall ranks #9 for inbound states), but at the city level, Dallas proper is seeing more outbound searches than inbound, as movers appear to favor suburbs like Fort Worth or smaller Texas markets over the urban core.
Most active states for local and short-distance moves in June 2026
Interstate moves get the headlines, but a significant portion of moveBuddha’s June search volume came from people planning local and short-distance moves within their own state. The state-level patterns for these searches tell a story of their own.
| State | Rank by Local Search Activity |
|---|---|
| 1. Texas | #1 |
| 2. California | #2 |
| 3. Florida | #3 |
| 4. Illinois | #4 |
| 5. New Jersey | #5 |
| 6. Virginia | #6 |
| 7. Georgia | #7 |
| 8. Maryland | #8 |
| 9. Minnesota | #9 |
| 10. Pennsylvania | #10 |
Ratios show inbound searches ÷ outbound searches. Above 1.0 = more people moving in. Below 1.0 = more people moving out. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, June 2026.
Texas is the most active local moving market in June
Texas led all states for local and short-distance move searches in June. That’s consistent with what its interstate numbers show: Texas isn’t just attracting movers from other states. There’s constant movement within its major metros as people relocate between Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio or move to suburbs inside those markets.
California shows heavy internal churn despite being the top exit state
California ranked #1 for outbound interstate searches and #2 for local and intrastate activity. The two aren’t contradictory. The state is large enough to sustain significant internal movement even as net outmigration continues. People leaving San Francisco for Sacramento, or Los Angeles for the Inland Empire, show up as local or intrastate searches rather than interstate ones. June’s data shows that churn is still running at high volume.
Virginia and Maryland: mid-Atlantic movers staying regional
Virginia at #6 and Maryland at #8 in local search activity reflect a pattern worth noting alongside their appearance in the interstate exit data. Even as more people plan to leave the D.C. region for other states, a significant share are making shorter moves within Virginia and Maryland, relocating to less expensive suburbs, coastal areas, or smaller metros rather than crossing state lines. The two states together represent a regional reshuffling as much as an outright exodus.
What June 2026 moving trends tell us
June’s data reinforces what moveBuddha has seen across 2025 and into 2026: movers are following value. The states and cities drawing the most searches offer some combination of no income tax, lower housing costs, a growing job market, or warm weather, and ideally more than one of those things at once.
South Carolina’s hold on #1 by ratio and Nevada’s surge to nearly match Florida suggest Sunbelt demand is broadening beyond the usual Florida-Texas-North Carolina corridor. Idaho and Georgia are now top-10 destination states, while Charlotte continues to pull strongly even as Cary and Raleigh stepped back from the top city rankings this month.
Florida’s dominance by volume shows that despite rising insurance costs and recurring hurricane concerns, the state’s tax and lifestyle advantages still outweigh the downsides for a significant share of movers. Four Florida cities in the top 10 is a strong signal that the interest is distributed across the state, not concentrated in one metro.
The exit patterns are equally revealing. The cities and states losing people fastest in June (Columbus, Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Connecticut) share a common thread: cost structures that have outrun local wages, job markets in visible flux, or both. The new entrants (New Mexico, Wisconsin, Missouri at the state level; Brooklyn and D.C. at the city level) suggest the pressure is spreading beyond the usual Northeast suspects.
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Methodology & Sources
This analysis uses moveBuddha proprietary data collected from searches made through the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator during June 2026. The dataset covers interstate move searches, including both long-distance and short-haul interstate moves.
In-to-out ratio: The primary metric used throughout this report. It is calculated as:
[Number of searches for moves into a location] ÷ [Number of searches for moves out of a location] = In-to-out ratioA ratio above 1.0 indicates more inbound interest than outbound. A ratio below 1.0 indicates more people are searching to leave than to arrive.
What counts as a search: Each record represents a unique quote request submitted through the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator. Searches are classified by stated origin and destination city/state. Only interstate searches are included in state and city rankings; local and intrastate moves are excluded from the in-to-out ratio calculations but are counted separately in the local moves section.
Minimum volume threshold: State rankings include only states with 20 or more combined inbound and outbound searches to reduce statistical noise from very small samples. City rankings include cities with 8 or more combined searches.
Net inbound volume: Calculated as total inbound searches minus total outbound searches for a given location. Percentage share represents each location’s portion of total net inbound searches across all states.
moveBuddha data reflects search intent, not confirmed moves. Searches represent prospective movers actively exploring relocation options and may not all result in a completed move.
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The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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