U-Haul names Spokane, other WA cities as top growth areas in the U.S.

Spokane, Tukwila, Tacoma and Vancouver (Clark County) ranked among the top cities for in-migration nationwide in 2024, according to annual rankings published this month by moving truck company U-Haul.

Every year, U-Haul facilitates more than 2.5 million one-way truck, trailer and moving container transactions in the U.S. and Canada. Based on this data, the company calculates the metro areas and cities with the highest net migration — or the difference between moving trucks coming in and heading out.

The company publishes two lists, one ranking the top-growing metro areas and another for cities.

Among metro areas, Spokane was the 24th-highest growth market in the country, per the U-Haul index. Dallas, Charlotte and Phoenix ranked the highest.

Among smaller cities, Tukwila, Tacoma and Vancouver ranked eighth, 17th and 19th, respectively, in terms of net migration.

An important caveat: Because the data is a reflection of U-Haul transactions, it captures just a segment of the moving population in 2024 — far from all of it. Households might relocate any number of ways beyond renting a trailer, including hiring movers or selling all their stuff and starting anew.

“While U-Haul rankings may not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well states, metros and cities are attracting and maintaining residents,” wrote the report authors.

The report doesn’t delve into factors that push people out or draw them in. However, lower cost of living has historically played a significant role in attracting people to Tacoma, Tukwila, Spokane and other cities outside Seattle.

Among all states, Washington ranked seventh in terms of overall net migration, same as last year. Arrivals made up 50.3% of U-Haul transactions, meaning that just slightly more trucks, trailers and moving containers came into the state compared to those going out in 2024.

South Carolina ranked the highest, with arrivals comprising 51.7% of transactions; California ranked the lowest, with arrivals comprising 49%.