Gen Z is moving to SC more than other states, data shows. Here’s why and by how much
Interstate moving has dropped significantly since its peak in 2022, but South Carolina is still one of the most popular destinations for movers, gaining around 150 net newcomers a day.
Southern states are migration magnets and saw the highest influx of people who want a change of scenery in 2024, according to a report from StorageCafe, a nationwide online marketplace for storage units, which used recent U.S. Census data.
The top three destinations with the highest net migration were the following:
- #1. Texas: 75,673 net gain of residents
- #2. Florida: 67,797 net gain of residents
- #3. South Carolina: 53,734 net gain of residents
A specific generation especially loved moving to SC. Gen Z accounted for 32% of people moving into SC from other states, with a net gain of around 23,000 Gen Z newcomers, making SC No. 1 for net Gen Z inflow.
Many Gen Zers are in their early-to-mid 20s, and are now at a prime age to leave states for education, discover new job opportunities and explore lifestyle choices.
With fewer family obligations and lower homeownership rates, Gen Zers often have greater flexibility to relocate for job opportunities, more affordable cities or a change of scenery.
The normalization of remote and hybrid work has also expanded their geographic options right at the start of their careers, according to the report.
Destinations that attracted the most Gen Zers are the following:
- #1. South Carolina: 22,843 Gen Z net migration
- #2. Missouri: 14,063 Gen Z net migration
- #3. District of Columbia: 13,905 Gen Z net migration
The study said Gen Zers were driven to these locations because of affordability and ambition. SC offers lower housing costs and growing regional job markets, giving younger adults room to establish themselves financially.
While house prices in SC have doubled in the past decade, the rising prices have been more moderate than in states like Texas and Florida, and the state still offers reasonable entry points into homeownership.
Millennials were the generation that moved to SC the most before Gen Z overlapped them. Data has shown that Millennials, now in their 30s and 40s, are more likely to settle down in one state and not travel long distances to move.
Here are more details about those who decided to move to SC:
Key details behind net migration in SC
- Average age of newcomers: 34 years old
- Remote workers among newcomers: 21%
- Newcomers with Bachelor’s degrees or higher: 53%
- Net migration per 1,000 residents: 9.81
- Per capita income of newcomers: $55,307
- Newcomer homeownership rate: 51%