The top states where Hoosiers are moving
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Illinois has become the most popular landing spot for Hoosiers seeking a more permanent change of scenery.
Why it matters: While moving overall is at an all-time low around the U.S., there's been an uptick in state-to-state migration.
By the numbers: More than 17,100 people left Indiana for the Prairie State between 2018 and 2022, according to newly released census data. The top states after Illinois were:
- Florida (14,242 people).
- Michigan (11,784).
- Ohio (11,428).
- Kentucky (11,053).
Between the lines: Moving — across town, across the state and across the country — for new jobs and better lives was once a common part of American life. In the 1960s, around 1 in 5 Americans moved each year, according to the Brookings Institution.
- As of 2022, that had fallen to 8.7% — even accounting for the pandemic-era moves out of big coastal cities and into places like the Sun Belt.
The top U.S. counties Hoosiers are flocking to are:
- Cook County, Illinois.
- Jefferson County, Kentucky.
- Maricopa County, Arizona.
- Hamilton County, Ohio.
- Berrien County, Michigan.
On the flip side: Indiana was among the top states for transplants from Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. And in the case of the Illinois and Ohio population swaps, we gained more than we lost.
- A total of 31,791 people moved here from Illinois over 2018-2022, representing the biggest pool of transplants.
- 12,870 Ohioans have become Hoosiers, and we gained 10,134 residents from Michigan.
Fun fact: The only Indiana county listed as a top destination for those moving out of state is Lake County, meaning most of those fleeing Illinois are likely Chicagoland natives looking to stay as close to home as possible.
Zoom in: While Indy's metro area is growing, the Circle City itself has seen a small population decrease.
- Indy's population shrunk 0.13% from 2022 to 2023 and now has 879,293 residents, according to the Census Bureau's analysis of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
Yes, but: The Indianapolis metro area grew 2.2% between 2020 and 2023, with more than 45,000 new people.
- The largest drivers of the growth were Hancock (7.5%), Boone (7%), Hamilton (6.5%) and Hendricks (6.2%) counties.
The bottom line: Most Americans stay close to home — but plenty are still making big moves, whether for a job, an education or family reasons.