Young Professionals are flocking to South Carolina in latest study

The pandemic opened up the floodgates of interstate mobility, which reached a decade-high in 2022 with approximately 8.2 million people on the move. That has meant an influx for certain states and an exodus from others.

So, where do Americans want to live right now — and why?

South Carolina rises to the top of the list as the sixth-most sought-after state in the nation in terms of net migration. According to our research, the state attracted around 69,000 more residents than it lost in 2022, a significant influx in light of the state’s relatively small total population. 

What is surprising? Among the 609 people who moved to The Palmetto State every day, 28% were millennials.

Here is a snapshot of the notable findings regarding South Carolina uncovered by our research:

• The top states fueling interstate moves: Neighboring North Carolina (17%) and Georgia (9%) dominate inflow into South Carolina, followed by New York (7%), Florida (7%) and California (7%). Notably, data show that while just 3,400 individuals moved from South Carolina to New York, a staggering 16,500 people — more than five times as many — made the reverse move. A similar trend is evident in migration flows from Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey, with South Carolina consistently attracting more residents than it loses from these states.
• Why are so many people moving to The Palmetto State? The housing affordability is a big draw for a lot of people choosing South Carolina. Even though the rise in popularity was accompanied by steep home price increases of up to 33% in the past five years, South Carolina homes are still about 38% more affordable than those in New York and 65% cheaper than in California.
• Who is moving to South Carolina? The typical mover to The Palmetto State makes $53,000 a year and has an average age of 36. Additionally, the state is drawing in a well-educated demographic. A full 31% of its new residents have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. Also, an appreciable 11% of those moving in are working from home.
• From a generational standpoint, millennials made up the largest portion of movers to South Carolina, at 28%. They were followed by baby boomers as the second-largest generation by percentage of movers, at 19%, while Gen Zers represented almost 18%.
• The self storage market in the state is well prepared to support intense move-in activity, boasting approximately 10 square feet of storage space per capita.

Please find the full analysis of the latest census data and insights in our report, which aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the evolving landscape of interstate mobility: https://www.storagecafe.com/blog/state-to-state-moving-trends/.

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