America's largest do-it-yourself moving company, U-Haul Holding Company, has released its mid-2026 migration trends report.

Based on 52 weeks of customer one-way rental data from July 2025 to June 2026, the report breaks down population movement by generation for the first time, revealing significant differences in where each age group is choosing to settle.

Baby boomers are migrating in large numbers to the Carolinas. South Carolina and North Carolina rank as the top two states for net inbound moves among this group, followed by Florida and Arizona. Six of the top seven states for boomers are located in the southeastern Sun Belt.

For both Generation X and millennials, the preferred destinations are Florida and Texas. However, their paths diverge from there. Gen X tends to favor the Southeast and the Mountain West, while millennials, driven by career opportunities, are spreading out toward California and several Midwestern states.

Generation Z displays a distinct "return to the city" pattern, gravitating toward densely populated markets with numerous universities, entry-level jobs, and apartment inventory. Texas and California are their top choices, followed by New York and Illinois, reflecting a strong preference for rich urban amenities.

Florida is the only state to rank in the top ten for net inbound moves across all four generations.

Millennials account for the largest share of one-way U-Haul transactions, with Generation X coming in a close second. Together, these two generations represent over 60% of total rental volume.

The report also notes that certain college towns saw significant growth among Gen X renters, suggesting that many parents are assisting their children with moves as they head off to school.