Something decisive is happening on the American migration map. While former darlings like Florida and Texas have cooled considerably, one southeastern state has quietly and consistently climbed to the very top of nearly every relocation ranking. South Carolina – the Palmetto State – is not just having a good year. It is leading the nation in population growth, drawing retirees, young professionals, and families alike in numbers that are hard to ignore. The data from multiple independent sources all point to the same story: this is where America is moving.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: South Carolina Leads the Nation
Between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, South Carolina’s population grew at a rate of 1.5 percent, faster than any other state in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is not a one-time spike. South Carolina’s population grew more rapidly than any other state, mostly due to people relocating – and it was the second consecutive year it led the United States. When a state tops the growth charts two years running, it stops being a trend and starts being a transformation.
From July 2024 through July 2025, South Carolina’s population increased by nearly 80,000 people. The primary driver of recent population growth was domestic migration, with South Carolina netting 66,622 domestic migrants – meaning 66,622 more people moved into the state than out of it. The biggest increase was reported by South Carolina, where the population grew by 79,958 people, or 1.5 percent, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, fueled by a net domestic migration increase of 66,622.
Florida’s Fall From Grace – and Who Benefits
Last year, Florida gained just 22,517 new residents from net domestic migration. That figure was down from 58,411 in 2024, 183,646 in 2023, and 310,892 in 2022 – a dramatic fall from grace for Florida, which at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic migration boom was the nation’s top destination for professionals seeking a more affordable cost of living, sunny skies, and a thriving job market. Rising insurance premiums, climbing property taxes, and hurricane risk have all chipped away at the state’s appeal.
Florida has now fallen to the number eight spot, trailing the likes of South Carolina, Idaho, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah, among others, according to Census Bureau data. The rollback of remote-work flexibility has played a crucial role in the slowdown of domestic migration to Florida, while the state’s rising home prices, rents, property taxes, homeowners association fees, and homeowner’s insurance premiums have also contributed to discouraging Americans from relocating there. South Carolina, sitting just north, has emerged as a natural beneficiary of this reversal.
Affordability Drives the Migration Engine
The top inbound states of 2025 include North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, and Florida, with the Carolinas and Tennessee topping the list for four years in a row. South Carolina’s persistent position at the top is rooted in something practical: it simply costs less to live there. Some of the lowest property taxes in the nation for homeowners and an income tax structure that favors retirees have contributed to a “Gray Tsunami,” particularly in the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head areas.
moveBuddha reports South Carolina, Idaho, and Alaska as leaders for the highest in-to-out ratios in 2025, and notes surging interest in smaller “micro-destinations” like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Retirement hotspots still dominate – half of 2025’s top inbound cities are major retirement hubs, including the number one ranked Myrtle Beach, SC. The Myrtle Beach metro area ranked among the top three fastest-growing in the entire country in recent Census data, with coastal living at a fraction of what it costs in comparable markets elsewhere.
A Booming Economy Beyond Beaches and Retirement
South Carolina has transformed into a growing epicenter for industry, namely the technology and manufacturing industries. Major employers have taken notice. Major players like Boeing, BMW, and Volvo are leading a vibrant manufacturing sector, attracting job seekers to the area. Over the past five years, there has been a 7 percent increase in employment within the tech and healthcare sectors. Urban areas, particularly Charleston’s Silicon Harbor, are nurturing budding tech startups, while Greenville is a hotbed for advanced manufacturing.
Jasper County, situated between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, Georgia, was the third fastest-growing county in the nation with 5.9 percent population growth. A total of six South Carolina counties made the top 100 out of over 3,000 in the United States, including Horry County, ranking 34th with 3.8 percent growth, and Berkeley County, ranking 61st with 3.2 percent growth. That kind of broad-based county-level growth signals that economic opportunity is spreading well beyond one or two hotspots.
North Carolina Is Right Behind – and Just as Compelling
North Carolina leads all states with 17.5 percent of all net inbound searches in 2025, followed by Florida at 14.1 percent, South Carolina at 13.7 percent, Texas at 10.8 percent, and Tennessee at 9.6 percent. In raw volume of people drawn to the Southeast, the two Carolinas together dominate the national picture. North Carolina continues to attract new residents with its lower cost of living, job opportunities, access to outdoor activities, and Southern hospitality. Boasting five out of the twenty top cities people are moving to in 2025, the Tar Heel State takes first place among the most moved-to states on PODS’ annual list.
Over 165,000 people moved to North Carolina in 2024 alone. With housing costs around 14 percent lower than the national average and a lifestyle that’s hard to beat, it’s a top pick for people looking to relocate. Beyond affordability, the state is home to 28 Fortune 500 companies, fostering a strong job market. With unemployment hovering around 3.7 percent as of mid-2025 and expanding industries like fintech, biotech, and clean energy, North Carolina is increasingly seen as a state where upward mobility is attainable.
What the 2026 Outlook Tells Us
Southern states remained primary draws for those moving, with top destinations including South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina have consistently been among the top inbound states since 2020. This is no longer a pandemic-era anomaly. It reflects a structural shift in where Americans want to live and what they can actually afford. Sun Belt states lead most lists: South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee dominate inbound trends across 2024 and 2025 datasets.
Experts at moveBuddha forecast that in 2026, Alaska and South Dakota could see increased inbound migration, as Americans continue seeking lifestyle and affordability-driven destinations. Still, the Carolinas show no signs of losing their grip at the top. The migration map of 2025 looks familiar – South Carolina still reigns, the South and Sun Belt still dominate – but the states Americans choose have remained clustered in the Southeast, where affordability and access to nature complement job growth. The reasons people are moving have shifted somewhat from panic-driven pandemic decisions to considered, deliberate choices about quality of life – and South Carolina keeps passing that test.