Who’s Coming to Michigan? New U-Haul Data Has the Answer

As someone who has moved three times this year (long story), and just last week rented my first U-Haul trailer, this is a topic at the front of my mind. Whether you're moving to the other side of town or another state, moving is no small task. Grand Rapids has been in the news as one of the fastest-growing cities, and now U-Haul's latest report shows that isn't all talk.

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U-Haul, the self-storage and moving equipment rental service, posts a Midyear Migration Trends report showcasing where their trucks and trailers are headed around the country. This report examines where one-way customers from January to July 2025 are going to metro areas with a population of over 2 million. 

In Michigan, that only applies to Detroit, but this still gives a great idea of where people are coming from. Also, according to the report, nearly half of all residential moves in the U.S. occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

READ MORE: Meijer Seemingly Confirms Move Away From 24-Hour Supermarkets

Where People Are Coming From

According to the report, Ohio, Florida, and Illinois are the top three origin states for arriving U-Haul customers, followed by:

1. Ohio
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Indiana
5. Texas
6. Tennessee
7. Georgia
8. North Carolina
9. Pennsylvania
10. New York

Continuing this trend of Ohio-dominance, Chicago, IL, and Atlanta, GA, take the top two spots. Still, Toledo, Cleveland, and Columbus are the next three metro areas with the most people moving to Michigan.

Where Michiganders Are Going

Looking at the rest of the report, we can track where Michiganders moving out of Michigan are headed. Again, Midwest states like Illinois and Ohio are popular choices; however, Michigan also appears in the top 10 for Pennsylvania and Florida:

• Chicago (2nd)
• Cincinnati (5th)
• Cleveland (1st)
• Columbus (3rd)
• Indianapolis (4th)
• Minneapolis (10th)
• Pittsburgh (10th)
• Tampa (10th)

You can view the entire report here.