Where Are People Moving in August 2026? (moveBuddha Data)
Fact Checked by: Here’s the quick answer: the Carolinas own August. South Carolina holds the country’s highest inbound-to-outbound ratio for a second straight month, while North Carolina jumps from #6 to #2. Together, the two states account for 26.6% of net inbound move demand, essentially matching Florida’s 26.7% share on their own.
Florida tells the other big story in this month’s data. Its in-to-out ratio fell to a 2026 low of 1.45, dropping the state to #6 by ratio, but Florida still captured more net inbound searches than any other state. Meanwhile, Kansas moved in the opposite direction, falling from the #2 destination state in July to the #8 exit state in August.
We analyzed interstate move searches submitted through moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator during August 2026 to identify where prospective movers are looking to go, and which places they’re looking to leave.
Here’s what changed in August.
In-to-out ratio · moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, August 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, August 2026.
Where people are moving in August 2026:
- South Carolina holds the #1 destination spot for a second straight month with a 1.76 in-to-out ratio. The lead narrowed sharply from July’s 2.28, but Myrtle Beach again ranks #1 among all cities nationally at 8.33.
- North Carolina jumps to #2 at 1.74, its strongest showing of the year. Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Cary all post inbound-heavy ratios, and the state moves up to 17.1% of net inbound demand.
- Florida slips to #6 by ratio at 1.45 but still leads every state in net inbound volume, capturing 26.7% of all net inbound searches. Sarasota and Kissimmee carry the city-level results.
- Kansas flips from #2 destination state to #8 exit state in a single month, dropping from a 1.69 ratio in July to 0.80 in August. Wichita’s inbound surge did not carry into the fall booking window.
- Montana and Oregon crack the top 10 for the first time this year at 1.46 and 1.25. Portland drives most of Oregon’s inbound signal at a 1.33 city-level ratio.
- Connecticut leads all exit states for the fourth consecutive month at 0.52, with New Jersey close behind at 0.53. Florida is the top destination for movers leaving both states.
- Long Beach, California posts the most lopsided exit ratio at 0.16, roughly 6 outbound searches for every inbound one. Sacramento and Irvine give California three cities on the exit list.
See how August compared to July 2026 moving trends, when South Carolina posted a 2.28 ratio and Kansas ranked #2 among destination states.
(Updated: September 2026)
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Top 10 most popular states to move to in August 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. August’s spread is tighter than July’s, with the top five separated by only three tenths of a point.
| State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. South Carolina | 1.76 |
| 2. North Carolina | 1.74 |
| 3. Idaho | 1.57 |
| 4. Alabama | 1.52 |
| 5. Montana | 1.46 |
| 6. Florida | 1.45 |
| 7. Tennessee | 1.39 |
| 8. Texas | 1.29 |
| 9. Arkansas | 1.27 |
| 10. Oregon | 1.25 |
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, August 2026.
South Carolina repeats at #1, but the margin shrinks
South Carolina posts a 1.76 in-to-out ratio in August, holding the top spot for a second straight month. The result is a step down from July’s 2.28, and the gap between first and second place is now two hundredths of a point.
The city data explains both halves of that story. Myrtle Beach still ranks #1 among all qualifying cities nationally at 8.33, and Greenville posts a 2.00 ratio. What changed is the rest of the state: Summerville and the Charleston-area markets cooled after a strong July, pulling the statewide ratio down even as Myrtle Beach remained the country’s strongest qualifying inbound city.
That makes South Carolina’s August result less dominant than July’s, but still broad enough to keep the state at #1. Myrtle Beach remains the standout, while Greenville gives the state a second clearly inbound market.
North Carolina posts its strongest month of 2026 at #2
North Carolina makes the biggest move in August’s destination rankings, climbing from #6 in July to #2 in August. Its in-to-out ratio rises from 1.47 to 1.74, and the state records the highest inbound search volume of any state outside Florida and Texas.
The jump is spread across several cities, not driven by just one standout market. Charlotte posts a 1.61 ratio, Raleigh 1.67, Wilmington 2.20, and Cary 3.00. Six North Carolina cities clear the volume threshold with more inbound than outbound searches, more than any other state in August’s city data.
California sends more searches into North Carolina than any other origin state, followed by Florida, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. That means North Carolina is drawing interest from several parts of the country rather than relying on one major source market.
That wider interest helps explain why North Carolina’s August rise stands out. The state captures 17.1% of all net inbound demand nationally, third only to Florida and Texas by share.
Florida drops to #6 by ratio but still leads overall inbound demand
Florida’s 1.45 in-to-out ratio is its lowest of the year and puts the state sixth in August’s destination rankings. But the bigger picture looks different: Florida still attracts more net inbound searches than any other state and accounts for 26.7% of all net inbound demand.
The two numbers tell slightly different stories. Florida’s ratio shows that the gap between people searching to move in and people searching to leave has narrowed. But by total demand, Florida is still the country’s biggest destination.
Florida accounts for 26.7% of all net inbound move searches in August 2026. Texas ranks second at 17.9%, followed by North Carolina at 17.1% and South Carolina at 9.5%. Together, those four states account for 71.2% of all net inbound demand.
| State | Share of Net Inbound Demand |
|---|---|
| Florida | 26.7% |
| Texas | 17.9% |
| North Carolina | 17.1% |
| South Carolina | 9.5% |
| Tennessee | 6.0% |
| Oregon | 3.9% |
| Alabama | 3.8% |
| Idaho | 2.5% |
| Wisconsin | 1.6% |
| Montana | 1.5% |
Share reflects each state’s net inbound searches as a percentage of total net inbound searches across all qualifying states. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, August 2026.
Pro tip: Fall is one of the cheapest windows of the year to book a long-distance move, and August searches with September or October pickup dates are already taking advantage of it. See our guide to the best time to move.
Montana and Oregon make their first top-10 appearances of 2026
Montana ranks #5 at 1.46, making its first appearance in the top 10 this year. Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings all post more inbound than outbound searches, though Montana’s overall search volume is still fairly small. That makes August an interesting month for the state, but we’ll need more data before calling it a trend.
Oregon ranks #10 at 1.25, with Portland accounting for much of the state’s activity and posting a 1.33 city-level ratio. Bend runs even higher at 2.50, but it falls below our 20-search city threshold and does not appear in the rankings below.
Oregon spent much of 2025 with more outbound than inbound searches, so August marks a noticeable change. September’s data will show whether more people continue searching to move into the state than out of it.
Top 10 least popular states to move to in August 2026
Connecticut and New Jersey lead the exit list by a wide margin. Six of the bottom 10 states are in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic, while California, Ohio, Kansas, and Nevada round out the list. Kansas is the biggest surprise after ranking #2 among destination states in July.
| State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Connecticut | 0.52 |
| 2. New Jersey | 0.53 |
| 3. Maryland | 0.65 |
| 4. California | 0.66 |
| 5. Ohio | 0.76 |
| 6. Massachusetts | 0.77 |
| 7. New York | 0.77 |
| 8. Kansas | 0.80 |
| 9. Nevada | 0.81 |
| 10. District of Columbia | 0.85 |
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, August 2026.
Connecticut and New Jersey are the two most outbound states in the country
Connecticut has the lowest in-to-out ratio in the country at 0.52, its fourth straight month at #1 on the exit list and its lowest reading of 2026. New Jersey is close behind at 0.53.
High housing costs and property taxes may be part of what keeps both states near the top of the exit rankings, especially for residents comparing them with lower-cost markets in the South. Their proximity to New York City may also matter as more households weigh whether the cost of staying in the region still makes sense for them.
Florida is the top destination for people searching to leave both states. After Florida, New Jersey movers most often search for moves to Texas, North Carolina, and California, while Connecticut’s second-most-common destination is Massachusetts. That suggests Connecticut’s outbound activity includes a meaningful amount of regional movement alongside longer-distance moves south.
Kansas flips from #2 destination state to #8 exit state
Kansas at 0.80 is the sharpest reversal in August’s data. In July, Kansas ranked #2 among destination states at 1.69, driven largely by Wichita’s 4.40 city-level ratio. In August, Wichita falls to 0.86, and the statewide ratio drops below 1.0 with it.
The one-month swing shows how quickly rankings can change when much of a state’s momentum comes from a single city. Overland Park is now the only Kansas city with a clearly inbound ratio. September’s results will help show whether Wichita’s July surge was temporary or whether August is the outlier.
Ohio and Massachusetts join the bottom 10
Ohio ranks #5 at 0.76, while Massachusetts ranks #6 at 0.77. Both are new to the bottom 10 this month.
Columbus accounts for much of Ohio’s outbound city-level activity with a 0.59 ratio. Interest in lower-cost and Sun Belt destinations may be part of the state’s broader outbound pattern, though no single city appears to explain the statewide result on its own.
Massachusetts shows a similar statewide imbalance, with more searches leaving than arriving. High housing costs may be part of that pressure, particularly outside the Boston area where households have fewer high-wage job opportunities to offset the cost of staying in the region.
Top 10 most popular cities to move to in August 2026
August’s city rankings are more spread out than July’s. Myrtle Beach holds the #1 spot, while Tennessee places two cities in the top 10 and Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Florida are all represented.
| City, State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Myrtle Beach, SC | 8.33 |
| 2. Fairfax, VA | 6.00 |
| 3. Johnson City, TN | 5.67 |
| 4. Sarasota, FL | 3.29 |
| 5. Oklahoma City, OK | 3.00 |
| 6. Cary, NC | 3.00 |
| 7. Marietta, GA | 2.57 |
| 8. Knoxville, TN | 2.47 |
| 9. Kissimmee, FL | 2.30 |
| 10. Bowling Green, KY | 2.25 |
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, August 2026.
Myrtle Beach leads all cities for a second straight month
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina posts an 8.33 in-to-out ratio in August, up from 7.60 in July and the highest city-level result in the dataset. Two straight months at #1, along with continued inbound interest, make Myrtle Beach one of the clearest city-level trends in this summer’s data.
Its appeal may be tied to a mix of coastal access, relatively affordable housing compared with many Northeast beach markets, and South Carolina’s retiree-friendly tax structure. Those factors line up with the origin data, which shows a large share of Myrtle Beach’s inbound searches coming from the Northeast.
East Tennessee moves in while Nashville moves out
Johnson City ranks #3 at 5.67, while Knoxville ranks #8 at 2.47, giving Tennessee two cities in August’s top 10. Both are in East Tennessee, where lower housing costs, no state income tax on wages, and access to the Smokies may be helping draw interest.
The statewide picture is more mixed. Tennessee has a 1.39 in-to-out ratio overall, but Nashville tells a different story, with more people searching to leave than move in. Its 0.76 ratio stands in sharp contrast to Johnson City and Knoxville.
That split suggests Tennessee’s strongest inbound interest may be shifting away from its biggest and most expensive metro and toward smaller cities in the eastern part of the state. Knoxville also has more search volume than Johnson City, making its 2.47 ratio especially notable.
Fairfax stands out from the rest of Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia ranks #2 at 6.00, making it one of August’s strongest inbound cities. That’s especially notable because Virginia overall has more people searching to leave than move in, with a statewide ratio of 0.90.
Richmond also appears among August’s top exit cities at 0.54, making Fairfax even more of an outlier within the state. Its location in Northern Virginia, close to Washington, D.C. and its large government and contractor job market, may help explain why Fairfax is drawing interest even while other parts of Virginia lean outbound.
Fairfax’s ratio is based on a smaller number of searches than some of the larger cities on the list, so it’s worth watching in the months ahead. For now, though, it shows that moving patterns can vary sharply even within the same state.
Oklahoma City, Marietta, and Bowling Green stand out for affordability
Oklahoma City ranks #5 at 3.00, while Marietta, Georgia ranks #7 at 2.57 and Bowling Green, Kentucky ranks #10 at 2.25. All three are mid-size markets that offer more room in the housing market than many of the larger cities that dominated pandemic-era migration.
Affordability may be part of what is drawing interest. Oklahoma City remains less expensive than many major Sun Belt metros, Marietta offers access to the Atlanta area without living in the city itself, and Bowling Green sits between Nashville and Louisville with home prices that are generally lower than either.
Together, the three cities fit a broader August pattern: movers are not just looking at the biggest name-brand destinations. Smaller and mid-size markets are also gaining attention, especially where buyers may be able to stretch their housing budgets further.
Top 10 least popular cities to move to in August 2026
California places three cities on August’s exit list, and upstate New York places three more. The rest span the Southwest, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic, which makes this a broader list than the California-dominated ranking from July.
| City, State | In-to-Out Ratio |
|---|---|
| 1. Long Beach, CA | 0.16 |
| 2. Surprise, AZ | 0.19 |
| 3. Fort Wayne, IN | 0.29 |
| 4. Sacramento, CA | 0.33 |
| 5. Albany, NY | 0.37 |
| 6. Irvine, CA | 0.45 |
| 7. Rochester, NY | 0.50 |
| 8. Richmond, VA | 0.54 |
| 9. Aurora, CO | 0.57 |
| 10. Buffalo, NY | 0.59 |
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, August 2026.
Long Beach posts the most lopsided exit ratio
Long Beach, California ranks #1 on the exit-city list at 0.16, meaning there are roughly six outbound searches for every inbound one. The result fits with California’s broader pattern in August, when the state ranks #4 on the exit list with a 0.66 ratio.
Sacramento ranks #4 at 0.33, and its placement may be even more telling. For years, Sacramento attracted people looking for a more affordable alternative to the Bay Area. Now, more people are searching to leave Sacramento than move in, suggesting California’s outbound pressure may be spreading beyond its most expensive coastal cities.
Irvine ranks #6 at 0.45 and appears on the exit list for a second straight month. With Long Beach, Sacramento, and Irvine all in the bottom 10, California has more cities on August’s exit list than any other state.
Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo put three upstate New York cities on the exit list
Three upstate New York markets appear in August’s bottom 10: Albany ranks #5 at 0.37, Rochester #7 at 0.50, and Buffalo #10 at 0.59.
Unlike many cities on the exit list, these aren’t among the country’s most expensive housing markets. Their outbound numbers may instead reflect a mix of factors such as colder weather, fewer job opportunities than larger metros, and New York’s relatively high tax burden.
Movers searching to leave these cities tend to look toward Southern and Southeastern destinations, which fits with the statewide picture. New York also ranks among August’s top exit states at #7 with a 0.77 ratio.
Surprise and Aurora show a shift in two fast-growing Western suburbs
Surprise, Arizona ranks #2 on the exit list at 0.19, while Aurora, Colorado ranks #9 at 0.57. Both suburbs gained residents during the big relocation wave of 2021 and 2022, but August shows more people now searching to leave than move in.
Rising housing costs may be part of that shift. Fast growth made both areas less affordable than they were before the pandemic, which can make the advantages that originally drew movers there less compelling over time.
The statewide numbers are less dramatic. Arizona sits just outside the bottom 10 at 0.91, while Colorado is at 0.92. That suggests the stronger outbound trend is concentrated in certain local markets rather than spread evenly across either state.
Most active states for local and short-distance moves in August 2026
Interstate moves drive the migration story, but a meaningful share of August search volume came from people moving within their own state. Local rankings are influenced more by population size and how often people move within a state than by whether the state is gaining or losing residents overall.
| State | Rank by local search activity |
|---|---|
| California | #1 |
| Texas | #2 |
| Florida | #3 |
| New York | #4 |
| North Carolina | #5 |
| Ohio | #6 |
| Pennsylvania | #7 |
| Washington | #8 |
| Georgia | #9 |
| Illinois | #10 |
Rankings based on volume of local and intrastate move searches. Based on moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator data, August 2026.
California takes the top local spot from Texas
California ranks #1 for local search volume in August, moving ahead of Texas after two months in second place. The state also ranks #4 on the interstate exit list, but those two results can happen at the same time.
California is large enough to support heavy movement within the state even while more people are searching to leave than move in. Many residents are still relocating between metros, suburbs, and nearby cities without crossing state lines.
North Carolina ranks high for both inbound and local moves
North Carolina ranks #5 for local move activity while also ranking #2 for inbound interstate interest. That combination points to a state that is both attracting new residents and seeing plenty of movement within its borders.
Charlotte and the Research Triangle continue to draw people from out of state, while those same areas also generate local moves as residents change jobs, move between suburbs, or trade up in housing.
New York and Ohio show high local activity despite more outbound searches
New York ranks #4 for local move activity and Ohio ranks #6, even though both also appear among August’s top exit states.
That isn’t necessarily a contradiction. Large states can have plenty of residents moving locally even while more interstate searches point outward than inward. In other words, people may be moving around within the state at the same time others are looking to leave it.
What August 2026 moving trends tell us
August shows just how quickly moving patterns can change from one month to the next. Some states are gaining interest across several cities, while others are seeing big swings that may or may not last.
The Carolinas are the clearest inbound story. South Carolina and North Carolina rank #1 and #2 and together account for 26.6% of net inbound demand, nearly matching Florida’s 26.7% share on their own. North Carolina’s rise stands out because the interest is spread across several cities rather than coming from one unusually strong market.
Florida is still the biggest destination by overall demand. Its 1.45 in-to-out ratio is the state’s lowest of 2026, but Florida still attracts the largest share of net inbound searches in the country. In other words, Florida may not rank as high as it did earlier in the year, but a huge number of people are still looking to move there.
Kansas is the best reminder not to read too much into a single month. It ranked #2 among the most popular states in July, but in August, more people were searching to leave Kansas than move there. Much of that change came from Wichita, which went from one of July’s strongest inbound cities to having more outbound than inbound searches in August.
The Northeast also continues to stand out for people looking to leave. Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and D.C. all rank among August’s bottom 10 states. California places three cities on the exit list, while Surprise and Aurora suggest that some fast-growing Western suburbs may not be attracting movers as strongly as they did a few years ago.
September will help show which of these changes are sticking. The biggest things to watch are whether the Carolinas stay on top, whether Florida regains some ground, and whether Kansas and other sharp August shifts continue into the fall.
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FAQ
What state are people moving to the most in August 2026?
According to moveBuddha’s proprietary August 2026 data, South Carolina has the highest in-to-out ratio in the country at 1.76, meaning roughly 176 inbound move searches for every 100 outbound searches. North Carolina ranks second at 1.74. By overall net inbound demand, Florida leads the country with 26.7% of all net inbound searches.
What state are people leaving the most in August 2026?
According to moveBuddha’s August 2026 Moving Cost Calculator data, Connecticut has the lowest in-to-out ratio in the country at 0.52, making it the most outbound state for the fourth straight month. New Jersey ranks second at 0.53.
What city are people moving to the most in August 2026?
According to moveBuddha’s proprietary August 2026 data, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has the highest city-level in-to-out ratio at 8.33. That means there were more than eight inbound move searches for every outbound search among qualifying cities.
What does moveBuddha’s in-to-out ratio mean?
moveBuddha’s in-to-out ratio compares searches for moves into a location with searches for moves out. A ratio above 1.0 means more people are searching to move in than leave, while a ratio below 1.0 means more people are searching to leave than move in.
Does moveBuddha’s moving trends data reflect completed moves?
No. moveBuddha’s proprietary moving trends data is based on quote requests submitted through the Moving Cost Calculator. It reflects where prospective movers are actively searching to relocate, but not every search results in a completed move.
Methodology & Sources
This analysis uses moveBuddha proprietary data from quote requests submitted through the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator during August 2026. The dataset includes interstate move searches, including both long-distance and shorter 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 means more people are searching to move into a location than out of it. A ratio below 1.0 means more people are searching to leave than move in.
What counts as a search: Each record represents a unique quote request submitted through the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator. Searches are grouped by the origin and destination city and state entered by the user. Only interstate searches are included in the state and city in-to-out rankings. Local and intrastate moves are excluded from those calculations and are counted separately in the local moves section.
Minimum volume threshold: State rankings include only states with at least 100 combined inbound and outbound searches to reduce the influence of very small samples. City rankings include only cities with at least 20 combined inbound and outbound searches.
Net inbound volume: Net inbound volume is calculated by subtracting outbound searches from inbound searches for each state. A state’s share of net inbound demand represents its portion of total net inbound searches among states that meet the report’s minimum volume threshold.
Cost-of-living, housing, tax, and migration context referenced throughout this report may draw on published state and federal sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau’s migration data. These outside sources are used to provide context for moveBuddha’s findings, not to determine the rankings.
moveBuddha data reflects search intent, not confirmed moves. The data shows where prospective movers are actively researching relocations, but not every quote request results in a completed move.
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