A new U-Haul survey ranked Florida highly for attracting and maintaining residents.
Florida ranked second on the U-Haul Growth Index, which analyzes one-way customer transactions during 2025, according to the moving company.
It’s a two-spot improvement over 2024 and consistent with the state’s top-five finish in 2023.
U-Haul’s report focuses on the net gain or loss of customers who rented a one-way truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container in one state and dropped their equipment off in another state.
The company’s data is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way transactions across America and Canada.
The report said rankings aren’t tied directly to population or economic growth, but are good indicators of how well cities and states attract and maintain residents.
Chad Rome is the marketing president for U-Haul Company of southern Alabama, whose territory also covers the Florida panhandle.
Rome said people are moving to Florida thanks to “low barriers for entry” and “low regulatory hurdles” for both corporate and smaller businesses.
“We have an extremely low cost of living and a really high quality of life,” Rome said.
He also mentioned beautiful weather, “incredible” outdoor activities and no state income tax.
Texas ranked first after ranking second in 2024.
North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Alabama and Georgia round out the top 10.