2020 Migration Trends: People are Moving Again, Exiting New York City and the SF Bay Area

Rhea-AI Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a significant out-migration from densely populated areas like New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a U-Haul report. In 2020, U-Haul data showed a marked increase in one-way truck rentals, especially from March to June, indicating urban residents relocating to less crowded areas. For instance, 58% of U-Haul traffic from San Francisco were departures, and New York City saw a 35% decrease in truck arrivals. Popular destinations included Bridgeport and Chicago. Overall, self-moves surged post-lockdown, reflecting a rebound in the moving industry.

Positive

• One-way U-Haul truck rentals increased by 72% in May 2020 compared to April.
• U-Haul reported a significant increase in truck rentals after COVID-19 lockdowns, indicating a recovery in the moving industry.
• The company remains an essential service, adapting to pandemic challenges and ensuring safe moving options.

Negative

• New York City experienced a 35% drop in U-Haul arrivals from March to December 2020.
• The San Francisco Bay Area saw a 31% decrease in truck arrivals year-over-year, highlighting a trend of out-migration.

PHOENIX, Jan. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with more do-it-yourself movers leaving densely populated U.S. areas, specifically New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a U-Haul® special report analyzing migration trends from 2020.

The SF Bay Area and New York City were among the most prevalent out-migration U.S. markets in 2020, according to U-Haul.

U-Haul transaction data also reveals Americans are moving again in growing numbers, and have been since May.

In addition to its annual growth states and growth cities rankings and reports, U-Haul considered the potential influence the virus had on self-movers, and looked at regions where overwhelming demand for one-way U-Haul trucks mirrored consistent out-migration.

"While some people were hesitant to move during shelter-in-place mandates, those who moved were doing so out of necessity," U-Haul President John "J.T." Taylor said. "We have been open and available to help all along as an essential service provider. As 2020 went along, we saw that more and more individuals and families recognized they can move safely."

From the time that President Trump declared the pandemic a National Emergency in March, the 30 most populated U.S. cities (based on 2019 Census estimates) all witnessed more U-Haul trucks departing than arriving over the next three months. This indicated customers who were able to move, on the whole, were looking to escape urban cores for less-crowded destinations.

The Bay Area and New York City were among the most prevalent out-migration markets in U.S. during this three-month period – and throughout 2020.

San Francisco was a slight growth city in 2019, with more U-Haul trucks entering the city than leaving it. But in 2020, San Francisco was the epicenter of the Bay Area's exodus. Departures accounted for 58% of all one-way U-Haul traffic from March through June. Limited fleet inventory prevented the numbers from being more lopsided in favor of departures. The ratios in San Jose and Oakland were similar.

For the entire Bay Area, arrivals from March-December 2020 dropped 31% year-over-year, while departures tapered by just 12% from their 2019 pace to create the disparity of more trucks going out than coming in.

Like San Francisco, New York City welcomed more self-movers than it bid farewell in 2019. That migration trend reversed in 2020. Severe stagnation occurred during the shutdown. From March to June, arrivals to the five boroughs plummeted 58% year-over-year, while departures were curbed only by limited fleet inventory as trucks left the city.

From March-December 2020, U-Haul arrivals to New York City were down 35% year-over-year.

LEAVING NEW YORK CITY

Top destination cities for U-Haul customers leaving New York City during the pandemic include Bridgeport, Poughkeepsie and New Haven. Outside the Northeast, the top destination is Chicago in the Midwest and Atlanta in the South.

The top 10 states DIY movers from New York City are migrating to are: New York (outside NYC); New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Connecticut; Massachusetts; Virginia; Maryland; Florida; Rhode Island; and North Carolina.

LEAVING THE BAY AREA

Top destination cities for U-Haul customers leaving the Bay Area during the pandemic include the Sacramento/Roseville corridor, San Diego and Stockton. Outside of California, the top destinations are Reno, Las Vegas, Portland, Phoenix and Seattle.

The top 10 states DIY movers from the Bay Area customers are migrating to are: California (outside the Bay Area); Nevada; Arizona; Oregon; Washington; Colorado; Texas; Utah; Idaho; and New Mexico.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING AGAIN

Self-moves sputtered in April when shutdowns across the country generated uncertainty. But starting in May, one-way U-Haul truck rentals began to rise with each passing month. May is traditionally the start of the summer moving season, with nearly half of all household moves occurring between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

2020 REBOUND: SELF-MOVES SURGE AFTER U.S. SHUTDOWN

MONTH	One-Way U-Haul Truck Rentals in 2020 Compared to the Previous Month
March	+5%
April	-21%
May	+72%
June	+13%
July	+15%
August	+1%

Taylor noted that contactless business options like U-Haul Truck Share 24/7® with built-in social distancing protocols, and enhanced equipment sanitation, reassure customers about using U-Haul. There is also the added appeal to a self-move during the pandemic, minimizing exposure from others during the process of relocating one's family and belongings.

SIGNIFICANT SAMPLE SIZE

Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck-sharing transactions that occur annually. U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces, offering a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.

U-Haul, headquartered in Phoenix and celebrating 75 years in business, releases its growth cities and growth states rankings and reports each January to recap the past year. Find those releases and more at myuhaulstory.com.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 127,000 trailers and 41,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 774,000 rentable storage units and 66.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge
Sebastien Reyes
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-760-4941
Website: uhaul.com

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SOURCE U-Haul

FAQ

What migration trends did U-Haul report for 2020?

U-Haul reported significant out-migration from New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area during 2020, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

How did COVID-19 affect self-moves in 2020?

The pandemic initially caused a decline in self-moves, but by May 2020, U-Haul rentals surged, indicating a rebound.

What were the top destination cities for movers leaving New York City?

Top destination cities included Bridgeport, Poughkeepsie, and New Haven, with Chicago and Atlanta as popular choices outside the Northeast.

How did U-Haul's truck rentals change through 2020?

U-Haul's one-way truck rentals dropped by 21% in April but surged by 72% in May, reflecting market recovery after initial lockdowns.

What were the moving trends in the San Francisco Bay Area during 2020?

The Bay Area saw 58% of U-Haul traffic as departures from March to June 2020, showcasing significant out-migration.