Scale versus movement
Population size is published for every hub. Movement between states is not, because a credible net migration series must come from a named federal source with consistent methodology.
Trend analysis · Population & Demographics
Migration Trends 2026
Where people are moving, and what the published data can honestly say about it.
Published Jun 10, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · 10 min read
Editorial details
Author
Elena Marsh
Editorial Director
Reviewer
Priya Raman
Personal Finance Editor
Published
Jun 10, 2026
Version 1.0
Last reviewed
Jul 14, 2026
10 min read
Editor's review: Net migration flows are not published here. Population scale is.
Key findings
What the data shows
- Population is concentrated in a small number of very large states.
- Cost and housing consistently appear as the stated reason for interstate moves in the questions US360 readers ask.
The report
A demographic review of state population scale and the structural pull factors behind internal movement.
Data visuals
Charts and tables
Every visual states whether it is derived from published US360 data or a labelled placeholder, and every chart can be read as a data table.
- California39 million
- Texas30.5 million
- Florida22.6 million
- New York19.6 million
- Pennsylvania13 million
- Illinois12.5 million
- Ohio11.8 million
- Georgia11 million
- North Carolina10.8 million
- Michigan10 million
View as data table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| California | 39 million |
| Texas | 30.5 million |
| Florida | 22.6 million |
| New York | 19.6 million |
| Pennsylvania | 13 million |
| Illinois | 12.5 million |
| Ohio | 11.8 million |
| Georgia | 11 million |
| North Carolina | 10.8 million |
| Michigan | 10 million |
Derived from the published US360 state dataset.
Sources
Where this data comes from
US360 never presents a third-party statistic as its own. Each source below is labelled by origin.
- Official federal agency
US Census Bureau
Authoritative source for population and migration.
Open source - US360 editorial analysis
US360 state dataset
Published population per hub.
Limitations
- No net migration figure is published in this edition.
Download center
Files, versions and dates
Each file carries its version number and publication date. Files are prepared by the research desk and released with the report edition.
- Migration Trends 2026Data brief · v1.0 · Jun 10, 2026Preparing
Corrections & versions
What changed, and when
Version history
- v1.0 — Jun 10, 2026First publication.
Corrections
No corrections have been issued for this report. Corrections are always published here with the date and what changed.
Related rankings
Compare the states behind it
Quality of Life Rankings
Where do cost, housing and opportunity balance best?
- 1Mississippi75.7
- 2Michigan74
- 3Indiana73.4
US360 analysis of published data
Best States for Families
Where can a family buy a home and stay near services?
- 1Texas74
- 2Ohio71.7
- 3Mississippi70.9
US360 analysis of published data
Trust & transparency
How to read US360 research
How reports are created
A researcher drafts from the shared state dataset, a second researcher recomputes every composite, and an editor reviews the wording before publication.
How data is verified
A measure only enters a ranking when the same field exists for all 51 hubs. Anything partial stays a labelled placeholder.
When reports are updated
Annual reports are re-published yearly with a mid-year review. Rankings recompute with the dataset and are reviewed at least twice a year.
Known limitations
State-level figures cannot describe a specific city or neighbourhood, and several important measures are still unsourced. Each report lists its own limits.
Corrections process
Corrections are published on the report page with the date and the change, and the version history records what moved.
Reader feedback
Anyone can flag a figure through the contact page. Flagged figures are re-checked before the next review date.
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