Louisiana had most outbound moves in 2025, report says
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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.

