2025 North Carolina Migration Report: Why the Tar Heel State Is a Top 5 Destination for Movers
North Carolina’s appeal continues to skyrocket. According to the 2025 North Carolina Migration Report from HireAHelper, the Tar Heel State captured a net population gain of over 47,000 new residents last year, ranking as the 5th most popular destination in the country. Middle-class Gen X and millennial families are flocking to major hubs like Charlotte and Raleigh, leaving high-cost states in search of better career opportunities and cheaper housing. Dive into the complete report to discover the driving forces behind this Southeast migration boom and explore how local metros are evolving amid the growth.
Key Takeaways
- In the past year, 675,473 people moved to or within North Carolina.
- North Carolina ranked as the 5th most popular state to move to in the U.S., with a net population gain of 47,761.
- The majority of newcomers came from Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina, with Florida alone making up 14.3% of inbound moves from another state.
- Charlotte and Raleigh dominate migration flows, attracting 40.98% of all people who moved to North Carolina from both in-state and out-of-state.
- Gen X and millennials accounted for 78.5% of inbound movers, suggesting a workforce-driven and family-focused migration trend.
Daniel Cobb
Daniel Cobb is the a senior editor at HireHelper.com, where he combines nearly a decade of writing and editing experience with a personal passion for all things moving. A veteran of multiple DIY cross-country moves, Daniel has become a strong advocate for affordable, professional moving help. He now channels his hard-earned lessons into helping others avoid the pitfalls of DIY moving, making moving easier, safer, and less overwhelming.
Our Proprietary Data Source
This analysis is based on PGM’s database of 18,000,000 moves tracked between June 2024 and May 2025. Unlike studies that rely on outdated census releases or modeled estimates, this dataset reflects real moves over the past 12 months, making it one of the most current views of U.S. migration patterns available.
North Carolina Migration at a Glance
North Carolina continues to cement itself as one of the most sought-after states in the country. With its combination of economic opportunity, lower cost of living compared to coastal hubs, and quality of life perks, it’s not surprising that so many people are choosing to call the Tar Heel State home.
In the past year alone, there were 675,473 moves in the state of North Carolina, but only 173,800 of those were from out of state. When factoring in the people who moved out of North Carolina to another state, we see a net population gain of 47,761 new residents overall. This growth placed the state 5th nationwide for net migration, behind South Carolina, Idaho, Delaware, and Tennessee.
North Carolina vs. U.S. Migration Trends
Compared to the rest of the country, North Carolina’s inbound migration reflects a larger national trend: people are leaving expensive, high-tax states like New York and California and heading toward more affordable states with strong job markets.
Florida tops the list of feeder states to North Carolina, responsible for 14.3% of inbound moves, while states like Virginia (9%) and South Carolina (8.1%) also send large shares of new residents across state lines.
By contrast, when North Carolinians leave, the top destinations are South Carolina (14.9%) and Florida (11.1%), suggesting a high degree of population “swapping” between the Southeast states. This back-and-forth exchange highlights the Southeast as one of the most dynamic migration corridors in the country.
The Most Popular Cities to Move to in North Carolina
Not all moves in North Carolina are across state borders. In fact, nearly three-quarters (74.3%) of moves were within the state itself. Whether moving from out of the state or relocating within North Carolina, most new residents gravitate toward its largest metropolitan hubs.
The Charlotte metro area was the clear leader, attracting 163,096 people in the past year. That’s nearly a quarter (24%) of all moves, both from outside the state and from within the state. The Raleigh-Cary metro area came in second with 113,722 new residents, followed by Greensboro-High Point (43,388) and Durham-Chapel Hill (40,059).
Migration Within North Carolina
North Carolina’s biggest cities aren’t just attracting newcomers from out of state, they’re reshaping migration within the state, too. Mid-sized metros are losing residents to bigger cities, where job growth, opportunity, and relative affordability are pulling people in.
Charlotte also pulls heavily from within the state. 13.9% of those relocating to Charlotte from within the state came from Raleigh, while another 12.8% came from Hickory. This signals that Charlotte is becoming the state’s gravitational center, pulling in workers from mid-sized metros with less economic opportunity.
Raleigh, too, has benefitted from this in-state shuffle, drawing talent from nearby markets such as Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Both Charlotte and Raleigh are home to Fortune 500 companies, rapidly expanding tech sectors, and robust healthcare industries, all magnets for upwardly mobile professionals.
Another factor? Housing. While prices in Charlotte and Raleigh are rising, they remain significantly lower than comparable metros like New York City or Washington, D.C., making the “big city move” more achievable for families relocating from smaller cities or states.
Charlotte’s rapid growth isn’t just fueled by newcomers from across the country—it’s also drawing heavily from within North Carolina. The top in-state sources of residents show just how much mid-sized metros are feeding into the Queen City’s expanding economy.
Raleigh’s boom is driven by those moving from all across North Carolina. Durham-Chapel Hill tops the list by a wide margin, followed by steady inflows from Fayetteville, Charlotte, and other metros.
Greensboro’s growth is shaped largely by its nearby neighbors. Winston-Salem alone accounts for more than a third of its in-state inflow, with additional residents coming from Burlington, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham.
Who is Moving to North Carolina?
The data shows that those moving to North Carolina are largely working-age professionals and families. Generationally, Gen X (39.1%) and millennials (34.2%) made up nearly 3 in 4 inbound movers. The newest generation in the workforce, Gen Z, only accounted for 2.8% of moves. Additionally, baby boomers made up more than 3 in 20 or 17% of movers to the state.
States Where Residents are Relocating to North Carolina
When we zoom in on where North Carolina’s new residents are coming from, a clear picture emerges. Nearly half (45%) of inbound movers came from just five states: Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, and California.
This mix tells two stories. First, regional migration dominates, with the Southeast acting almost like an interconnected labor and housing market. Second, long-distance moves from New York and California highlight North Carolina’s rising national profile. As remote work reshapes housing decisions, many professionals are choosing cities like Raleigh or Asheville for their lower costs and quality of life while still keeping ties to jobs in major markets.
Who is Relocating to North Carolina by Income
When looking at income, most inbound movers earn between $51k–$100k (42%), aligning with North Carolina’s median household income of $70,800. Another 31% fall in the $101k–$200k range.
This suggests North Carolina is especially appealing to middle-class families priced out of major metros. With a median home price still below the national average, and a cost of living that ranks below the U.S. average, the state offers affordability without sacrificing access to jobs or amenities.
What’s more, higher earners moving into Raleigh and Charlotte are helping fuel demand for new housing developments, while mid-range earners are finding opportunities in surrounding suburbs and secondary metros like Fayetteville or Winston-Salem.
Why Are People Moving to North Carolina?
The top three reasons cited for moving to North Carolina were:
- New or better housing (18.6%)
- Job opportunities or transfers (14.2%)
- Cheaper housing (13%)
In other words, affordability and opportunity go hand in hand. North Carolina’s housing stock, ranging from new construction suburbs outside Raleigh to historic mill-town homes in Winston-Salem, provides a variety of entry points for individuals across income brackets. Not to mention that North Carolina ranks 22% higher than the national average for new or better housing, 29% higher for new jobs or job transfers, and 43% higher for cheaper housing.
The job market is equally attractive. With unemployment hovering around 3.7% (as of mid-2025) and expanding industries like fintech, biotech, and clean energy, North Carolina is increasingly seen as a state where upward mobility is attainable.
Who is Leaving North Carolina?
Even though North Carolina saw a net gain, outbound moves tell an important part of the story – not everyone is staying put. In fact, more than 31,000 people left Charlotte last year, making it the top metro for outbound migration as well. Raleigh (28,646) and Durham (14,091) followed.
States North Carolinians Are Moving To
When North Carolinians leave the state, they don’t go far: Nearly 15% of North Carolinians who left moved to South Carolina, with Florida (11.1%) and Virginia (9.7%) following closely. This reinforces the idea that the Southeast operates as a fluid regional market, where job changes or housing affordability can prompt short-distance cross-border moves.
South Carolina’s lower property taxes and access to coastal markets may explain why so many North Carolinians cross the border, particularly retirees looking to stretch their retirement dollars. Meanwhile, Florida continues to draw both retirees and younger families attracted to its lack of state income tax.
Who is Moving Away From North Carolina by Demographic
Just as with inbound moves, millennials and Gen X dominate the outbound population. The difference lies in motivation. Outbound moves skew more heavily toward employment reasons, with 54% of those making outbound moves citing job changes, compared to just 14% of those making inbound moves citing jobs as their primary reason.
This signals a potential risk for North Carolina: while the state is good at attracting new residents with affordable housing and lifestyle benefits, retaining top talent may require stronger long-term job opportunities and wage growth, especially in fast-growing cities where housing costs are creeping upward.
What Does the Future Hold?
If current trends continue, North Carolina is positioned for sustained growth, particularly in its urban centers. The influx of Gen X and millennials suggests strong future demand for both housing and jobs. Mid-range income earners are the backbone of this migration, signaling that affordability remains one of North Carolina’s greatest competitive advantages.
But with Charlotte and Raleigh already facing rising housing costs, the next phase of growth may spread more evenly to mid-sized metros like Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, and Asheville.
Methodology
To examine North Carolina’s migration patterns, we analyzed PGM’s proprietary database of 18,000,000 national moves recorded between June 2024 and May 2025. Each move in this dataset represents an actual relocation, providing a uniquely current perspective on mobility trends.
Our analysis focused on:
- Origins and destinations of moves,
- Intrastate versus interstate flows, and
- Demographic characteristics of movers.
Unlike many studies that rely on outdated U.S. Census Bureau releases or modeled estimates from relocation calculators, this dataset reflects real moves as they occurred. As such, it represents one of the most up-to-date and reliable sources of migration data available in the United States in 2025.
In Partnership With PGM
PGM, part of the Porch Group of companies. PGM’s robust audience data helps businesses reach customers strategically.
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