Domestic leader
North Carolina
+84,064
2026 research edition
The Sun Belt has a new migration leader
North Carolina now leads net domestic migration, while Florida’s latest growth profile depends far more on international migration.
Download infographicSun Belt is a reporting frame—not a Census region
This report defines 12 southern and southwestern states explicitly. Flows are ACS 2024 annual estimates; migration components cover July 1, 2024–July 1, 2025.
A new three-state leadership tier
Domestic leader
Texas
+67,299
Domestic leader
South Carolina
+66,622
Sun Belt domestic migration ranking
1. North Carolina84,064
Domestic leaders
2. Texas67,299
Domestic leaders
3. South Carolina66,622
Domestic leaders
4. Tennessee42,389
Strong domestic magnets
5. Arizona31,107
Strong domestic magnets
6. Georgia27,333
Strong domestic magnets
7. Alabama23,358
Emerging domestic gainers
8. Florida22,517
Internationally amplified
9. Oklahoma14,492
Emerging domestic gainers
10. Arkansas14,475
Emerging domestic gainers
11. Mississippi-917
Domestic headwinds
12. Louisiana-14,387
Domestic headwinds
Florida follows a different growth model
Net domestic migration
+22,517
Net international migration
+178,674
International migration was nearly eight times Florida’s domestic gain in the latest annual components. Florida remained a domestic gainer, but not the domestic leader.
Largest observed inbound corridors
| Corridor | Inbound | Reverse | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| California → Texas | 77,198 ± 9,890 | 45,803 | 31,395 |
| Florida → Georgia | 53,800 ± 9,235 | 35,570 | 18,230 |
| New York → Florida | 52,521 ± 7,743 | 27,404 | 25,117 |
| Florida → Texas | 52,200 ± 8,633 | 44,800 | 7,400 |
| California → Arizona | 51,251 ± 7,068 | 28,546 | 22,705 |
| Texas → Florida | 44,800 ± 12,461 | 52,200 | -7,400 |
| California → Florida | 37,272 ± 6,499 | 15,268 | 22,004 |
| Georgia → Florida | 35,570 ± 6,622 | 53,800 | -18,230 |
| North Carolina → South Carolina | 33,839 ± 6,269 | 26,106 | 7,733 |
| Pennsylvania → Florida | 33,011 ± 6,618 | 26,745 | 6,266 |
| Florida → North Carolina | 31,489 ± 4,584 | 25,796 | 5,693 |
| New York → Texas | 28,803 ± 4,972 | 17,111 | 11,692 |
Methodology and limits
ACS corridors and Census population components are separate products. The data describe movement, not motivations, and cannot establish taxes, housing, politics or employment as causes.