Wilmington again made it to the top of the list for inbound moves in a moving company's annual study.

A United Van Lines analysis shows the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, ranked No. 1 for the number of people moving to the area using United Van Lines. 

"In the Southeast region of the United States, several states – including South Carolina (62%), North Carolina (60%) and Arkansas (58%) – continue to increase in popularity with a high percentage of inbound moves in 2024," a United Van Lines release stated this week. "In alignment with this trend, United Van Lines continues to see greater migration to less densely populated areas of the country — often moving outside of big cities and to be closer to families.

"Of those Southeast states, Wilmington, North Carolina (83%), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, (80%) and Little Rock, Arkansas (57%) were included among the metro areas for high inbound migration."

Wilmington often ranks high or near the top of the company's yearly list, also garnering the top spot for inbound cities in the 2022 United Van Lines study. Since 1977, United Van Lines has tracked yearly migration patterns on a state-by-state basis, according to the release. The inbound and outbound rankings in the 2024 study only reflect states with 250 moves or more.

"The 2024 study is based on household moves handled by the UniGroup network (parent company of United Van Lines) within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. and ranks states based off the inbound and outbound percentages of total moves in each state," the release stated. "United classifies states as 'high inbound' if 55% or more of the moves are going into a state, 'high outbound' if 55 percent or more moves were coming out of a state or 'balanced' if the difference between inbound and outbound is negligible."

Among the states, West Virginia had the highest percentage of inbound migration (66%), while New Jersey topped the outbound list for the seventh consecutive year.

An outbound moving trend continues in the Midwest and West region of the United States, according to the release. Illinois (60%), Wyoming (57%) and Nebraska (56%) were included among the top states with a high percentage of outbound moves in 2024. Of those states, Cheyenne, Wyoming (73%), Springfield, Illinois (69%) and Lincoln, Nebraska (59%) were included among the metro areas for high outbound migration.

According to the release, "The study and its accompanying survey, which examines the motivations and influences for Americans' interstate moves, shows for the first time in decades, the primary driver for moving interstate was a desire to be closer to family (28%)."

For example, the study showed the top motivation for moving to Delaware, No. 2 in the top inbound states list for 2024, included a desire to be closer to family (36%), with more than 50% of movers aged 65 and older. Of those moving to Delaware, 12% of movers came from New York.

"Recent migration data from United Van Lines continues to reveal the lingering influences of the global pandemic," said Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in the department of public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the release. "As housing costs continue to rise, Americans are moving to lower density, more affordable regions between expensive, economic-driving states. Delaware is moving up and an interesting spot for retirees, providing affordability but in close proximity to cities like Philadelphia and D.C."