Where Ohioans go when they move out of state
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When Ohioans leave the state, it's often for warmer weather.
State of play: The share of Americans moving is at an all-time low, but there's an uptick in state-to-state migration.
By the numbers: A five-year pooled average from 2018-2022 shows more than 27,000 Ohioans moved to Florida, the top state for Ohio transplants.
- Kentucky came in second at nearly 13,600, followed closely by Indiana, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Between the lines: Though Illinois didn't crack the top five states, its Cook County (which includes Chicago) ranked as the top county Ohioans moved to — with more than 4,000 people. The other top counties and their noteworthy cities were:
- Maricopa County, Arizona (Phoenix)
- Kenton County, Kentucky (Covington)
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
- Lee County, Florida (Fort Myers)
The fine print: The maps are based on new 2018-2022 five-year state-to-county migration estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
- The estimates are best understood as a pooled average covering that time frame.
The big picture: Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania all neighbor the Buckeye State, while Texas and Florida routinely rank among the fastest-growing states.
- Economist Sean Snaith told Voice of America last year the leading factors for people moving to Florida include weather, a strong labor market and no state income tax.
- The same principles also apply to Texas.
Yes, but: Now is a tough time to live in Florida, with Hurricane Milton set to hit the state two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the southeastern United States.
The bottom line: Most Americans stay close to home — but taxes and Ohio winters aren't for everyone.