A Lot of People are U-Hauling to South Carolina
Statistics recently released by the U-Haul truck, trailer, and self-storage company indicate that South Carolina is now the most moved-to state in the country.
The company annually tracks where trucks are dropped off as a final destination. In 2024, South Carolina moved up four spots to number one. According to U-Haul, 51.7 percent of all U-Haul’s South Carolina traffic were people moving to the Palmetto state.
While 2024 marks the first year South Carolina has topped the U-Haul list, it is well-positioned as a Southern state to attract new residents. The U-Haul Top Five also included Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Georgia moved up three spots in 2024, landing at 15.
According to U-Haul, the popular places for new South Carolina residents to move from are New York, North Carolina, and New Jersey.
While warm climate, comparatively low cost of living, and coastal geography have long been attractors for residents, industry also finds the state appealing, with many companies relocating to or expanding operations in South Carolina. In 2024 alone, Milo’s Tea Company expanded and added jobs in Spartanburg County; Harbor Freight Tools opened a new operation center in Anderson County; and Portland Bolt & Manufacturing expanded its footprint in Edgefield County.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, also announced that it would be investing $800 million in a new data center in Aiken County, a move which will produce 100 new jobs.
Meyn America, a poultry processing solutions company, is investing approximately $50 million over the $10.8 million invested in 2023 in an expansion of its Oconee County operations. This includes moving its manufacturing center and corporate offices from Georgia.