The Carolinas emerge as new population boom states. Affordability and lifestyle drive growth

[littlemissmartypants]

January 31, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Move over Florida and Texas. The United States has new hot spots for growth, and they both have Carolina in their name.

North Carolina last year attracted more new residents, 84,000 people, from other parts of the country than any other state, a title held by Texas in 2024 and Florida in the two years before that. South Carolina had the highest overall growth rate last year at 1.5%, a distinction among states held by Florida in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released this past week.

Domestic migration, or people moving within the U.S., slowed in Texas. The 67,300 domestic migrants heading to the second most populous state year over year barely squeaked by South Carolina, which had the third highest number of domestic migrants at 66,600.
...
Interactive map at the link.
https://apnews.com/article/florida-texas-north-carolina-south-census-migration-bb9209a3620dafb8c7d248da59d9cd12

[biophile]

1. I'll never move south of the Mason Dixon line again

Unless I have absolutely no choice, I won’t go further south, won’t go to a red state, won’t go where there aren’t four seasons, and don’t want to listen to a southern accent if I can avoid it.
I said what I said.
(I used to have a southern accent by the way and I worked to get rid of it).

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Not surprised...people in FL too, are trying to move away from FL, to find more affordable places to live.

One of my best friends has shifted their FL search (their current home) to somewhere in the boonies of Illinois. I wish them the best. He's said that the traffic in FL is simply horrible and keeps getting worse.

[msongs]

3. plus those bitterly cold winter snow storms nt