Florida Cities Lead 2025 U.S. Migration Rankings
Florida dominated the U-Haul Growth Index, with eight cities in the top 10 and Ocala ranked No. 1 again. The state also placed second nationally for inbound moves.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida continues to attract new residents at a strong clip, according to the newly released 2025 U-Haul Growth Index, which tracks migration patterns based on one-way moving transactions.
The Sunshine State is home to eight of the top 10 growth cities and 12 of the top 25 for the past year. At the top of the list is Ocala, which retains its title as the No. 1 U.S. growth city, a distinction it also held in 2024 and 2022.
Other Florida cities featuring prominently on the list include:
- North Port — second-highest growth city in the U.S.
- Kissimmee — fourth in the rankings.
- Clermont — fifth, jumping substantially from prior years.
Fort Lauderdale, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Panama City, North Fort Myers, Leesburg, Sarasota and St. Cloud also made the top 25.
The index also highlights Florida metros in the top 25 U.S. growth metros based on net inbound U-Haul traffic, signaling broader regional appeal: Lakeland, Palm Bay, Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie and Miami all ranked among the nation’s most popular metro destinations for movers.
Overall, Florida was the No. 2 state for inbound moves, second only to Texas in the nationwide ranking.
Industry analysts use the U-Haul Growth Index as one of several indicators of population shifts, especially in fast-growing Sun Belt states. The strong showing of Florida communities on the 2025 list suggests that trends toward relocation for climate, lifestyle and economic reasons remain robust.
Source: U-Haul
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