Austin crowned No. 1 US city for movers. Where are residents coming from?

Don’t mess with Texas, or its widespread appeal.

Texas’ population has sizzled in recent years as a flurry of newcomers flock to major Lone Star metros and communities in search of more affordable real estate investments and ample job opportunities. Years after a COVID-era spike in remote work and technology jobs led many to Austin, Texas’ capital city is back on top as the No. 1 destination for new movers.

A late January Bank of America Institute study on U.S. migration patterns revealed Austin led the pack as the city experiencing the largest increase in new movers. However, while Texans might bemoan Californians setting up shop in the Lone Star State, this latest migration trend in Austin actually features new residents from other parts of Texas.

The study found almost one in four new Austin residents had moved to the capital last year from other major metros in Texas, with 10% coming from Houston, 9% from Dallas and 5% from San Antonio. Looking beyond the Texas border, 29% of all new residents had arrived from elsewhere in the South, the research noted.

However, the finding also revealed an “unusual equilibrium” between Austin’s inbound and outbound residents. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio were also the top destinations for Austinites looking to move elsewhere, and at similar levels to inbound residents from those three metro areas. When evaluating outbound Austin residents, 9% moved to Dallas, 7% relocated to Houston and 5% traveled down Interstate 35 to reside in San Antonio.

“Although the city is seeing net population growth, the inbound and outbound cities showed similar shares,” analysts wrote in part. “In our view, it’s possible that while many new residents have put down roots, some find Austin is a helpful gateway. In other words, short-term Austin residents are just as likely to choose another major Texas or coastal city that best fits their season of life, budget, or job opportunity.”

Behind Austin, other popular migration destinations in the U.S. included Denver and Philadelphia, with Denver largely attracting newcomers from the Sunbelt region and Philadelphia’s newest residents relocating from New York. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Los Angeles, New York City and Miami recorded the highest volumes of outflow residents last year, the analysis determined.

This article originally published at Austin crowned No. 1 US city for movers. Where are residents coming from?.