Louisiana had most outbound moves in 2025, report says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Louisiana recorded the highest share of outbound moves for the second year in a row in 2025, according to an analysis of interstate moves by Atlas Van Lines.
Why it matters: It's a real-world example of census data that's been worrying local and state leaders — people are leaving Louisiana, and it's a big problem.
The big picture: High housing costs seem to be keeping many people in place nationwide.
- But many others are moving, often for lower prices, jobs, climate resilience, or to be closer to family.
- A declining population can create challenges for policymakers as a decreased tax base impacts residents' quality of life, schools and infrastructure management.
Zoom in: Census data has shown that Louisiana is among the nation's fastest-shrinking states, and the New Orleans area in particular is losing population.
- Census data has also indicated that when people leave Louisiana, they're not going very far, tending to prefer locations in neighboring states.
State of play: One of them — Arkansas — was among the top three states to draw the most new arrivals last year in Atlas Van Lines' report. Roughly 2 in 5 people moving into Arkansas landed in Bentonville, home to Walmart's corporate headquarters, Atlas said.
- Idaho and North Carolina took the No. 2 and No. 3 spots for most new arrivals.
- Louisiana's last place standing was followed by West Virginia and Wyoming.
Between the lines: Americans have largely stopped moving — a trend researchers warn could weigh on the economy and reshape communities.
- Many homeowners feel locked into cheaper mortgages. (Right now, moving would require a 73% jump in the median monthly payment, a new Realtor.com analysis finds.)
- Those who do relocate are disproportionately affluent and college-educated, The Atlantic's Yoni Appelbaum noted earlier this year.
What we're hearing: "Looking ahead, we expect slow improvement as [mortgage] rates stabilize, but the 'why' behind moves is shifting" to "more lifestyle and family-based decisions," says Jack Griffin, CEO of Atlas World Group.