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- South Carolina was the fastest growing state with a population increase of 1.5% in 2025.
- Nearly 15 million U.S. adults will migrate in 2025, with most migration occurring within the same state.
- A strong job market, affordable prices, and attractive climate have attracted new residents to South Carolina.
- The report’s findings are based on an analysis of approximately 15 million internal movements from 2025.
Every year, people migrate from state to state in search of better opportunities, climate, and lifestyle.
According to the moving service provider’s January 2026 report. HireAHelpernearly 15 million U.S. adults will move in 2025. Most moves (78.49%) were within the same state, but more than 3 million people crossed state lines and flocked to southeastern states.
South Carolina is the fastest growing state in 2025 and is expected to grow by 1.5% due to domestic population growth among the states with the highest net migration in 2025, with 41,548 people moving into the state, an increase of 79.7 residents per 10,000 people.
This influx was fueled by the state’s attractive climate, affordable cost of living, and growing job market.
Here’s what else you need to know and why more people will be moving to the Palmetto State in 2025.
What will attract so many immigrants to South Carolina in 2025?
The cost of living can be a big factor in deciding whether to move somewhere.
According to the 2026 HireAHelper Migration Migration Report, South Carolina’s 2025 population boom was primarily driven by:
- South Carolina’s strong job market plays a key role, with continued growth in manufacturing, health care, and logistics sectors attracting workers from across the country.
- The state’s relatively low cost of living and affordability compared to more expensive states like New York, California, and Illinois makes it an attractive destination for many.
- The Palmetto State’s lifestyle factors, including its warm, mild climate and coastal charm, continued to attract retirees and residents seeking a higher quality of life.
- Regional growth was particularly strong in high-demand areas, such as coastal metropolises and areas along major interstate highways.
US immigration trends in 2025
The HireAHelper team examined 14,977,223 recorded internal movements from January to December 2025 to determine how U.S. migration patterns vary by state.
Each move in the dataset represents an actual relocation and reflects the actual move as it occurs.
Our analysis focused on:
- Origin and destination of adult transportation
- Intrastate and interstate flows
- Demographic characteristics of people on the move
Travis Jacque Rose is a trending news reporter for Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. please contact him trose@gannett.com.
