Will SC get a boost of new folks moving in for 2026? Here’s a forecast & what happened in 2025
South Carolina was the No. 1 move-to destination this year, and is expected to remain a top spot for movers in 2026.
In 2025, the Palmetto State saw 199 move-ins for every 100 move-outs, marking its third year as the No. 1 move-to state, according to a new report.
Conducted by moveBuddha, an online platform that helps estimate moving costs and connect movers, this fifth annual Migration Report analyzed half a million searches on its Moving Cost Calculator from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 1, 2025, to track where people are moving to, where they’re moving from and what’s likely to come next in 2026.
Here’s what this report forecasts for moves to the Palmetto State in 2026 and a look at the trends from 2025.
2026 outlook for South Carolina
Population growth is expected to continue in 2026, but the Palmetto State isn’t forecast to hold the No. 1 spot.
In 2026, South Carolina is projected to rank third among U.S. states for inbound moves, with approximately 2.09 new arrivals for every departure.
While this is an increase from the number of move-ins from 2025, this report says it represents a slight decline from the last three years, but still keeps the Palmetto State near the top nationwide.
According to the report, the No. 1 state movers are expected to flock to in 2026 is Alaska, followed by Idaho as the No. 2 destination.
What happened in 2025 moving trends?
In 2025, South Carolina posted an in-to-out ratio of 1.99, meaning nearly two people moved into South Carolina for every one who left.
Two South Carolina cities also drove much of the growth.
Myrtle Beach led the country with a staggering 328 move-ins per 100 move-outs, making it the fastest-growing U.S. city and a top spot for retirees.
Greenville followed close behind in the No. 4 spot, with 227 move-ins for every 100 move-outs.
Retirement-friendly communities and warm coastal climates remained a key draw this year, with the percentage of residents over 65 rising from 13.75% in 2010 to nearly 19.36% in 2025.
Idaho followed as the second top move-to destination, with North Carolina coming in third.
MoveBuddha says South Carolina’s population is largely growing due to migration from other states.
About this report
The moveBuddha Migration Report analyzed data from users of the platform’s Moving Cost Calculator. This year’s analysis covers searches on both state-to-state and city-level moves.
To find the top states and cities, the report’s calculations included:
- In-to-Out ratio: The number of inbound moves divided by the number of outbound moves. Ratios above 1 indicate more people moving in than leaving.
- Ratio trends: Year-over-year changes for in-to-out ratios show whether a state or city is gaining or losing popularity.
- City-level limits: Only cities with at least 100 inbound and 100 outbound move searches were included in the analysis.
MoveBuddha states the methodology and migration ratio used in their report align with approaches from LinkedIn and Bloomberg studies to provide a reliable picture of where Americans are moving.
To view the full report, click here.
