The United States population grew by 1% from 2023 to 2024, sending the population north of 340 million.
International migration played a central role in the population increase, with newcomers spread across all states and the District of Columbia . But when it comes to internal migration, the biggest beneficiary was the South, which received more internal migrants than every other region combined.
Here are the states that saw the biggest gains and losses from internal migration, according to census data:
Biggest gains
Texas
In 2024, 85,267 residents moved to Texas from other states, making it the biggest beneficiary of internal migration. Migrants were drawn by high-paying jobs in technology, energy, and manufacturing sectors and the state’s comparatively low cost of living. Texas is distinguished by having the most Fortune 500 companies of any state.
North Carolina
Close behind Texas, North Carolina saw the relocation of 82,288 residents in 2024. Migrants are drawn by the state’s low taxes, business opportunities, and warm weather. In Charlotte, the largest city in the Tar Heel State, the average low only reaches below freezing in January. Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, was named the second-fastest-growing city in the country by the Census Bureau in May. Charlotte came in as the 11th-fastest-growing city in the country.