Housing News

Where is America Moving? The 10 Fastest-Growing States

America is on the move, but the map is changing in ways that might surprise you.

Some Southern states are so attractive that nearly a thousand people move there every single day. Meanwhile, there are pricier, as well as more affordable, states that can’t seem to hold on to residents.  

The nation’s population growth slowed from July 2024 to July 2025 due to less immigration, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. International migration dropped by more than half in a single year, plummeting from 2.7 million to just 1.3 million people.

In fact, overall population growth was only 1.8 million during that period. That’s the slowest population growth since the early part of the pandemic in 2021. It’s also a significant reversal from 2024, when the population grew by the fastest rates since 2006.

“With births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the prior year, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today,” said Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, in a statement.

Despite the decline in immigration, there are a handful of states with booming populations. This is likely to keep these housing markets strong. On the other side, five states actually lost population: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia.

So, which states are the big winners? Here are the top 10 states that gained the most residents in the last year.

1. Texas

New residents: 391,243

Median home list price in December*: $350,000

The Lone Star State continues its reign as America’s top destination, adding nearly 400,000 people in just one year. That’s nearly 1,100 new residents a day. The state’s growth comes from a combination of international migration, 167,475 new residents, and more births than deaths.

2. Florida

New residents: 196,680

Median home list price: $425,000

The Sunshine State is still attracting newcomers, though its growth has cooled considerably. Florida led the nation in international migration with 178,674 new arrivals. But the number of folks moving domestically dropped dramatically to just 22,517, down from over 310,000 in 2022.

3. North Carolina

New residents: 145,907

Median home list price: $399,900

North Carolina is experiencing one of the nation’s fastest growth rates at 1.3%, fueled primarily by domestic migration. The state is the nation’s 9th most populous state.

4. Georgia

New residents: 98,540

Median home list price: $384,950

The Peach State continues its steady climb, adding nearly 100,000 residents. This has pushed its population to more than 11.3 million residents.

5. South Carolina

New residents: 79,958

Median home list price: $354,950

South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the nation if you look at the percentage of new residents moving in at 1.5%. There were 66,622 people moving there from other states.

6. Washington

New residents: 73,062

Median home list price: $604,100

The Pacific Northwest remains a major destination, with Washington adding more than 73,000 residents. The state now has just over 8 million people.

7. Arizona

New residents: 67,394

Median home list price: $465,950

Despite its scorching summers, Arizona continues to attract new residents. The state grew by 0.9% (just over 67,000) to reach 7.6 million people.

8. Tennessee

New residents: 63,785

Median home list price: $424,450

Tennessee’s growing cities of Nashville and Memphis continue to help to draw Americans southward. The state now has 7.3 million residents.

9. Virginia

New residents: 60,465

Median home list price: $425,000

The Old Dominion State is aided by its proximity to Washington, D.C., adding over 60,000 residents to reach 8.9 million people.

10. New Jersey

New residents: 41,861

Median home list price: $529,325

Rounding out the top 10, New Jersey added nearly 42,000 residents, reaching a total population of 9.5 million. The Garden State continues to attract residents with its job opportunities and proximity to New York City.

* Median home list prices are as of December from Realtor.com.