Something’s been happening quietly across America. While everyone’s been watching the usual suspects like Florida and Texas, three states have been climbing migration charts for reasons most people never saw coming. The shift isn’t loud or flashy. It’s happening one moving van at a time.
Oregon Just Hit Number One and Nobody Predicted It
Oregon topped the nation with 65% of all moves being inbound in 2025, marking the first time in nearly five decades this Pacific Northwest state has led migration rankings. Here’s the thing: this wasn’t supposed to happen. For years, Oregon struggled with population challenges, even seeing more deaths than births in some periods.
Roughly over a third of Oregon’s new arrivals are chasing opportunities in growing tech and healthcare sectors. Cities like Springfield offer notably lower living costs than other Oregon metros while staying close to Eugene and Portland. People are discovering they can have access to vibrant city culture, stunning outdoor recreation, and actual financial breathing room all at once.
California alone accounts for about one fifth of Oregon’s new residents, with folks from Colorado, Washington, Texas, and Montana filling out the ranks. The pattern reveals something bigger: people aren’t just fleeing expensive places. They’re choosing specific alternatives that deliver on multiple fronts at once.
Idaho Keeps Winning the Affordability Game
Idaho saw the highest inbound migration for the second consecutive year and remains among the most moved-to states nationwide. Between January 2021 and January 2025, Idaho drew newcomers equivalent to 3.4% of its population, a staggering figure for a state that wasn’t even on most people’s radar a decade ago…