Is Florida’s unofficial title as one of the top states to live in starting to fade away?
Popular moving and storage service PODS analyzed its net long-distance moving numbers between January 2024 and March 2025 to determine where most Americans are relocating this year.
The report shows that 75% of the most moved-to cities on its list are within the Sun Belt, while half of the most moved-out-of cities are up north, mainly in the West and Northeast. PODS says these moved-out-of cities have high living costs, low housing affordability, increased natural disaster risks and overcrowding.
“With the cost of living continuing to fuel many major moving decisions, it’s not surprising that some of the most expensive metros in the country are losing residents to areas with less congestion, better access to nature, and lower costs of living,” PODS writes.
Two of Florida’s cities made PODS’s list for the most moved-out-of cities. Here’s where they are.
Which Florida cities are residents moving out of? Why?
According to PODS, two of Florida’s major cities are seeing residents leave: Tampa and Miami.
“In 2023, Florida recorded its then-largest-ever loss of residents, numbering over half a million people — placing the state in second behind California for most moves out. According to a Florida Chamber of Commerce report, seniors were still flocking to the state, while young adults began looking elsewhere for better and more affordable career and housing opportunities.”
Continued: “Now, it appears seniors are also rethinking their addresses in the sun-drenched state.”
20 cities with the highest number of move-outs ranked, according to PODS
Where are people in Florida moving to in 2025?
According to the report, many of those who left Florida moved to the Midwest, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and the Northeast.
They also noted a notable uptick in relocations to the Midwest compared to the previous period. Many of these moves originated from Florida, the Northeast, Arizona, and Nevada.
Are people still moving to Florida? Not as much nowadays
According to PODS, people are still moving to Florida, but it is no longer the hotspot of years past.
Only two Florida cities appeared on its 2025 list of where Americans are moving: Ocala and Jacksonville. Between 2021 and 2023, the Sunshine State consistently had at least six cities on our list of top cities people are moving to.
They claim this trend aligns with overall net migration reports that show 2024’s post-peak migration numbers to the Sunshine State.
“For the past two years, we’ve watched Florida fall out of favor for moves. Once the golden child of net migration, the Sunshine State seems to have lost its appeal,” PODS writes. “In 2024, Florida saw about half of the net migration numbers from the previous year. This year’s PODS moving trend data also shows Florida’s fall from grace, with a mere fraction of the number of the state’s usual number of cities making the list.”
20 cities with the highest number of move-ins ranked, according to PODS
Which state is everyone moving to?
Boasting five out of the 20 top cities people are moving to in 2025, North Carolina takes first place among the most moved-to states on this year’s list.
The report says new residents are swayed by its “lower cost of living, job opportunities, access to outdoor activities, and Southern hospitality.”
Contributing: Nina Tran, Greenville News
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: These Florida cities rank among highest that people are moving out of. Here’s where, why
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
