In 2021, Massachusetts had the seventh highest rate of residents moving out of the state, according to Monday’s annual report from United Van Lines, a Missouri-based moving service which tracks national moving patterns.
Massachusetts’ outbound moving rate in 2021 was 57.6%, the highest recorded figure since United Van Lines began the study in 2013. Last year’s rate was 1 percentage point higher than the previous year, which was a record-breaking high, as well.
New Jersey was the most moved-out-of state in 2021, followed by Illinois, New York, Connecticut, California, and Michigan. Most of the top moved-into states were among the least populated states in America, such as Vermont, South Dakota, and West Virginia, which were all in the top five. Vermont was No. 1 as the most moved-into state in the U.S.
The majority of movers leaving the state said they were leaving because of retirement, which made up 37.5% of outbound movers, while 35% said they left because of a job. The most common reasons for moving to Massachusetts were job and family-related.
More than 56% of those moving out of the state were over 55 years old. Those immigrating into the state were fairly evenly distributed across age ranges.
Roughly half of Massachusetts movers, both inbound and outbound, made $150,000 or more in yearly income.
