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In U-Haul’s midyear rankings, Boomers’ leading state destinations were South Carolina and North Carolina, while Gen Z’s were Texas and California. The rankings cover one-way U-Haul equipment moves recorded from July 2025 through June 2026—not every American move.
Where are Boomers and Gen Z moving?
U-Haul’s national state ranking puts the Carolinas at the top for Boomers and Texas and California at the top for Gen Z. Here are each generation’s five leading states by U-Haul’s net-gain measure:
| Generation | Top five states |
|---|---|
| Boomers | South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Alabama |
| Gen Z | Texas, California, New York, Illinois, Colorado |
Florida led the state list for both Gen X and Millennials. U-Haul says Florida was the only state in all four generations’ top-ten state lists; Texas ranked highly for every generation except Boomers.
What U-Haul’s rankings measure
U-Haul analyzed 52 weeks of customer moves, from July 2025 through June 2026, grouped by renter generation. Its state rankings sort each state by the net gain or loss of one-way U-Haul equipment: equipment rented in one state and dropped off in another. U-Haul cautions that its Growth Index rankings may not directly correlate with population or economic growth. U-Haul’s 2026 national report describes the generation results and method.
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U-Haul defines the generations as Boomers (born 1946–64), Gen X (1965–80), Millennials (1981–96), and Gen Z (1997–2012). Eligibility also varies by equipment: truck renters must be at least 18, while trailer renters must be at least 16.
How the other generations compare
Florida topped U-Haul’s state rankings for both Gen X and Millennials. At the metro level, the leaders differ from the state rankings:
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| Generation | Top state destination | Top metro destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Boomers | South Carolina | Gainesville-Ocala, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; Phoenix, AZ |
| Gen X | Florida | Fort Myers, FL; Charleston, SC; North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL |
| Millennials | Florida | Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Orlando, FL |
| Gen Z | Texas | New York City, NY; Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Chicago, IL |
These are distinct views: the national report ranks state net gains, while U-Haul’s metros report examines departures from U.S. metro areas with populations of at least one million and lists destinations by generation. For example, among people leaving Atlanta, Texas led the state destinations for Gen X and Millennials; New York led for Gen Z when Georgia was excluded.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the results do—and don’t—say
Millennials and Gen X together accounted for more than 60% of U-Haul one-way rentals in 2026, according to the company; Millennials had the largest share, with Gen X close behind. That describes U-Haul transactions, not the age distribution of all movers. U-Haul also notes that roughly half of U.S. residential moves occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day, providing seasonal context for its results.
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The figures show where U-Haul renters generated net gains in one-way equipment. They do not establish total migration, population change, housing costs, job growth, or why people moved. U-Haul frames Boomer destinations as popular with retirees or people seeking winter homes, and describes Gen Z’s leading markets as dense areas with colleges, entry-level jobs, and apartment access; those are the company’s interpretations, not motives measured by the ranking.
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