U-Haul Report: Gen Z Favors Texas, California; Boomers Seek Carolinas

U-Haul's 2026 Midyear Migration Trends National Report, released on July 29, analyzes 52 weeks of customer moving data from July 2025 through June 2026 to identify generational migration patterns across the United States. The report's rankings are determined by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks, trailers, and U-Box containers for each state and metropolitan area, providing an indicator of relocation trends. This data is further broken down by generation, including Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964), Gen X (born 1965–1980), Millennials (born 1981–1996), and Gen Z (born 1997–2012).

The report indicates a divergence in migration preferences among different age groups. Baby Boomers and Gen Xers are predominantly moving towards warm, more affordable destinations in the Southeast. In contrast, younger generations, Millennials and Gen Z, continue to be drawn to the nation's most populous states and major urban centers. California, despite a documented population decline since 2020, remains a significant destination for these younger demographics. It ranked as the No. 3 net-gain state for Millennials and the No. 2 net-gain state for Gen Z, according to U-Haul data. The San Francisco Bay Area was identified as the No. 4 net-gain metropolitan area for both Millennials and Gen Z, while Los Angeles secured the No. 5 spot for Gen Z. U-Haul suggests that the continued migration of these younger generations might be mitigating California's overall population decrease.

This trend among younger Americans moving to California contrasts with broader demographic data. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that California's population decreased by 0.5% between April 2020 and July 2025, while the national population grew by 3.1%. In the most recent annual estimates, California experienced a net loss of approximately 9,500 residents, largely attributed to a significant drop in immigration. Furthermore, California has consistently ranked last on U-Haul's Growth Index for six consecutive years, signifying the largest net loss of one-way U-Haul customers among all states. Among Millennials, only Florida and Texas saw a higher net gain of U-Haul customers than California. For Gen Z, Texas was the only state that outranked California in this metric.

Gen Z's attraction to large urban centers extends beyond the West Coast. New York State ranked third among net-gain states for this generation, with New York City emerging as its top net-gain metropolitan area. Other major cities like Chicago, Denver, and Seattle also featured in Gen Z's top 10 preferred metropolitan areas for relocation. This finding contrasts with recent observations of young workers departing from some of these larger cities, suggesting a complex and evolving pattern of urban migration among younger cohorts. The U-Haul report, by focusing on actual moving truck data, offers a unique perspective on these demographic shifts, complementing official census data by capturing a segment of the population actively relocating.