Washington among top states for movers
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Washington ranks among the top 10 destinations for people who moved in 2025, according to an analysis of interstate moves by Atlas Van Lines.
Why it matters: Despite the Seattle area's high cost of living, constrained housing supply and a softening job market, Washington remains a lure for movers — underscoring the state's continued appeal even as migration slows nationwide, according to the analysis.
Driving the news: Migration accounted for 78% of the state's population growth from 2024 to 2025, even as overall growth slowed, per the state Office of Financial Management.
State of play: Washington ranked No. 7 among states with the highest share of inbound moves in 2025, according to Atlas Van Lines — trailing fast-growing destinations like Arkansas, Idaho and North Carolina, but still landing in the top tier nationally.
- Meanwhile, Louisiana recorded the highest share of outbound moves for the second year in a row, followed by West Virginia and Wyoming.
- Departures eased in high-cost California, Illinois and New York, even as they continued to outnumber arrivals, according to the analysis, which looked at 107,000 moves.
The big picture: Washington's gains come amid a historic slowdown in mobility nationwide.
- Americans have largely stopped moving due to high housing costs and mortgage rates, with a new Realtor.com analysis finding that moving now could result in a 73% jump in the median monthly payment.
- Among those who do move, lower prices, better jobs, climate resilience and proximity to family are key motivators.
- They're also more likely to be affluent and college-educated, The Atlantic's Yoni Appelbaum noted 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.
What we're watching: More migration data may arrive soon. Another moving company, United Van Lines, releases its own annual movers study at the start of the year.