People in SC are moving to these 10 states the most, new 2024 Census data shows
Many South Carolinians chose to relocate to a different state in 2023, new U.S. Census data shows.
But which states got the most residents from the Palmetto State?
According to recently released U.S. Census data, South Carolina lost an estimated 135,007 people to other states in 2023, year-over-year. Of those residents, 31,358 went to North Carolina — the most to a single state. Georgia came in second, attracting 16,635 people from South Carolina.
Below are the 10 states South Carolinians chose to move to the most last year.
Top 10 states that gained SC residents
- North Carolina: 31,358
- Georgia: 16,635
- Florida: 14,066
- Virginia: 11,905
- Texas: 8,072
- California: 5,346
- Tennessee: 3,580
- Maryland: 3,369
- New York: 3,192
- Pennsylvania: 2,807
Reasons for moving
So why did so many South Carolinians choose to move to the neighboring state of North Carolina? A 2024 study by United Van Lines may shed a little light on the matter.
The study shows that the top reason people moved to North Carolina in 2023 was to be closer to family, followed by jobs. The third most popular reason was for retirement.
But while South Carolina lost many residents last year, it gained even more. Census data shows 203,674 moved to South Carolina in 2023, year-over-year. The United van Lines study indicates that unlike North Carolina, retirement was the top reason people chose to move to South Carolina, followed by followed by family, and lifestyle change. New jobs came in at fourth.
Top 10 states that lost residents to SC
- North Carolina: 28,109
- Georgia: 17,378
- Florida: 16,206
- Pennsylvania: 13,419
- New York: 12,224
- Virginia: 10,020
- New Jersey: 9,772
- Maryland: 8,853
- Texas: 7,228
- California: 7,108
Where SC people moved to in 2023
- Alabama: 1,642
- Alaska: 211
- Arizona: 1,186
- Arkansas: 288
- California: 5,346
- Colorado: 1,813
- Connecticut: 1,146
- Delaware: 385
- District of Columbia: 514
- Florida: 14,066
- Georgia: 16,635
- Hawaii: 820
- Idaho: 97
- Illinois: 2,084
- Indiana: 1,221
- Iowa: 299
- Kansas: 218
- Kentucky: 1,126
- Louisiana: 338
- Maine: 741
- Maryland: 3,369
- Massachusetts: 1,367
- Michigan: 1,608
- Minnesota: 733
- Mississippi: 985
- Missouri: 1,226
- Montana: 797
- Nebraska: 445
- Nevada: 1,233
- New Hampshire: 61
- New Jersey: 2,619
- New Mexico: 627
- New York: 3,192
- North Carolina: 31,358
- North Dakota: 0
- Ohio: 3,647
- Oklahoma: 1,013
- Oregon: 414
- Pennsylvania: 2,807
- Rhode Island: 393
- South Dakota: 0
- Tennessee: 3,580
- Texas: 8,072
- Utah: 526
- Vermont: 110
- Virginia: 11,905
- Washington: 1,274
- West Virginia: 518
- Wisconsin: 939
- Wyoming: 13
- Puerto Rico: 314
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 1:00 AM.
