SC 3rd fastest-growing state of 2022, US Census data shows. Where are people coming from most?

South Carolina proved to be a popular spot to live in 2022, ranking as the third fastest-growing state for the year, new U.S. Census data shows.

The Palmetto State’s population grew by 1.7% to a total of more than 5.28 million as of July 1. Only the states of Florida at 1.9% and Idaho at 1.8% had faster growth by percentage.

In terms of numeric growth, South Carolina ranked sixth — gaining 89,368 residents year over year. Texas took the top spot for the category, growing by 470,708 people over the previous year.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the South was the fastest growing region in the nation this year, increasing by 1.1% or 1,370,163 people. Domestic migration of 867,935 people and international migration of 414,740 people were the biggest contributions to the growth.

Americans from just a handful of states have been moving to South Carolina more than all the others.

The latest Census data on migration between the states shows that in 2019, North Carolina had the most people at 33,940, to move to South Carolina in 2019. It was far more than the second-highest state, Georgia, with 16,644 people.

A study by United Van Lines found that in 2021, the number one reason people moved to South Carolina that year was retirement, followed by family, lifestyle, work and cost of living.

Below are the top five states where people moved from to South Carolina in 2019.

1. North Carolina
   
   Number of people: 33,940
2. Georgia
   
   Number of people: 16,644
3. Florida
   
   Number of people: 14,136
4. New York
   
   Number of people: 10,416
5. Virginia
   
   Number of people: 10,143

Here are the 10 fastest-growing states in 2022 by percentage

1. Florida: 1.9%
2. Idaho: 1.8%
3. South Carolina: 1.7%
4. Texas: 1.6%
5. South Dakota: 1.5%
6. Montana: 1.5%
7. Delaware: 1.4%
8. Arizona: 1.3%
9. North Carolina: 1.3%
10. Utah: 1.2%

Here are the 10 states that saw the biggest drop in population in 2022 by percentage

1. New York: -0.9%
2. Illinois: -0.8%
3. Louisiana: -0.8%
4. West Virginia: -0.6%
5. Hawaii: -0.5%
6. Oregon: -0.4%
7. Mississippi: -0.3%
8. Pennsylvania: -0.3%
9. Rhode Island: -0.3%
10. California: -0.3%

Patrick McCreless

The State

803-771-8353

Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. The team writes about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.