South Carolina was just ranked as the #1 most moved-to state in America, according to US News latest migration report.
The report that analyzed online search behavior found the Palmetto State ranked #1 among states people were most interested in moving to last year. North Carolina also placed high at #4 in America, reinforcing the Charlotte region’s pull on would-be movers.
The county rankings put the Charlotte in the center of growth. York County ranked #17 out of 3,144 total US counties for growth. Also in the Charlotte region, Catawba County ranked #7, Gaston County ranked #10, Union ranked #39 and Iredell County ranked #50. The report suggests the broader “Carolina corridor” keeps drawing attention from people weighing a move.
According to the report, these are the top 50 counties (out of 3,144) with the highest migration interest:
- Brunswick County, North Carolina
- Horry County, South Carolina
- Washington County, Tennessee
- Sumter County, Florida
- Marion County, Florida
- Ellis County, Texas
- Catawba County, North Carolina
- Greenville County, South Carolina
- Dorchester County, South Carolina
- Gaston County, North Carolina
- Comal County, Texas
- Sussex County, Delaware
- Bay County, Florida
- Johnston County, North Carolina
- Baldwin County, Alabama
- Beaufort County, South Carolina
- York County, South Carolina
- Canyon County, Idaho
- Flagler County, Florida
- Broomfield County, Colorado
- Maury County, Tennessee
- Cumberland County, Maine
- Madison County, Alabama
- New Hanover County, North Carolina
- Okaloosa County, Florida
- Osceola County, Florida
- Henderson County, North Carolina
- Houston County, Georgia
- Nassau County, Florida
- Kaufman County, Texas
- Kanawha County, West Virginia
- Caddo Parish, Louisiana
- Knox County, Tennessee
- Hamilton County, Tennessee
- Spartanburg County, South Carolina
- Wake County, North Carolina
- Deschutes County, Oregon
- Santa Rosa County, Florida
- Union County, North Carolina
- Hays County, Texas
- Grayson County, Texas
- Ada County, Idaho
- Smith County, Texas
- Alamance County, North Carolina
- Johnson County, Texas
- Pennington County, South Dakota
- Williamson County, Tennessee
- Buncombe County, North Carolina
- Lowndes County, Georgia
- Iredell County, North Carolina
The report did not track actual moves. Instead, it compared “move-in” versus “move-out” online searches and adjusted results for population. That method aims to measure where interest is building fastest, not just where the biggest metros are located.
For York County residents, the rankings match what many already see on the ground. New neighborhoods keep rising near Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Rock Hill. Roads and schools feel the pressure of growth. Meanwhile, the report signals a bigger trend: more people are actively looking at the Charlotte region’s South Carolina side as a long-term home base, not just a cheaper alternative across the line.
