Did more folks move to or leave Ohio in 2025? Here’s what a new U-Haul report says

Americans are moving less than ever before. Since the 1980s, the percentage of individuals that move to a different state has dropped from well over 10% to single digit metrics, says the United States Census Bureau.

According to U-Haul’s 2025 Growth Index. Ohio, ranked in the bottom 10. The state has the largest year-over-year drop on the entire index, falling 29 positions to 43rd after ranking 14th in 2024.

Based on the 80 years of business and over 24,000 rental locations, U-Hauls touts itself as“ the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces.”

Ohio is in the #43 spot

U-Haul now ranks Ohio 43rd, signaling a shift from being a net “move-to” state to one that is losing more one-way customers than it gains.

Analysts highlight Ohio alongside Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Delaware and Nebraska as states with double-digit slides in the standings, underscoring how quickly migration patterns can turn.

The Move Buddha site focuses on making moves easier for residents and consumers, and they offer a few reasons why Ohio may have slipped in the rankings.

• Low happiness score
• Limited diversity
• Political division
• Harsh weather
• Weird laws

How the index works

The U-Haul Growth Index is based on more than 2.5 million one-way rentals in the U.S. and Canada in a given year. Analysts compare the number of trucks, trailers and U-Box containers that arrive in a state versus those that leave, then rank states by that net gain or loss.

Analysis of the findings:

• Eight of the top 10 are in the South.
• Three of the bottom 10 are in the Midwest.
• Blue-to-red state migration continues to be a noticeable trend.
• Seven of the top 10 currently have Republican governors.
• Nine of the top 10 voted Republican in the most recent presidential election.
• Nine of the bottom 10 have Democratic governors.
• Seven of the bottom 10 voted Democratic in the most recent presidential election.

The top and bottom 10 growth states

The states gaining the most movers:

• 1 - Texas
• 2 - Florida
• 3 - North Carolina
• 4 - Tennessee
• 5 - South Carolina
• 6 - Washington
• 7 - Arizona
• 8 - Idaho
• 9 - Alabama
• 10 - Georgia

States losing the most movers:

• 50 - California
• 49 - Illinois
• 48 - New Jersey
• 47 - New York
• 46 - Massachusetts
• 45 - Maryland
• 44 - Pennsylvania
• 43 - Ohio
• 42 - Connecticut
• 41 - Michigan
• 40 - Rhode Island

U-Haul’s data offers a look at where Americans are moving, but Ohio is getting a fairly bad reputation. Tell me what you love about living here. Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.