The Top 10 'Most Desirable' States to Move - What They Offer, and What They Cost You
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| 10 most desirable states to move |
A U.S. News & World Report relocation ranking circulating in early 2026 highlights the top 10 states Americans most wanted to move to in 2025: South Carolina, Idaho, Alaska, North Carolina, Maine, Tennessee, Delaware, South Dakota, Alabama, and Arkansas.
The ranking is described as using online search data, adjusted for population, to estimate demand via move-in vs. move-out ratios. That methodology matters: it measures interest and intent, not necessarily successful moves, job placements, or long-term satisfaction.
To keep this review grounded, I’ll evaluate each state the way movers do in real life: housing reality, jobs, taxes, climate risk, and day-to-day livability—and I’ll compare the “desirability” list with broader migration signals (including U.S. Census population components and domestic migration coverage).
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1) South Carolina: the coastal-value magnet (until it isn’t)
South Carolina’s draw is easy to understand: beaches, mild winters, and still-more-reasonable home prices compared with many coastal peers. It also benefits from a “second-home to full-time” pipeline, especially among retirees. The tradeoff is growth pressure: infrastructure and housing supply don’t always keep pace, which can turn “affordable coastal living” into “crowded and rising premiums” fast.
Best for: retirees, remote workers, beach-first lifestyle buyers
Watch-outs: hurricane exposure, insurance costs, growth-driven congestion
2) Idaho: outdoor access + smaller-city momentum
Idaho keeps showing up across moving studies because it offers something rare: big nature with smaller metros. But the secret’s been out for years. The biggest surprise to newcomers is that “Idaho affordable” is no longer universal—especially in high-demand corridors. Still, quality-of-life buyers love the daily payoff: trails, lakes, and shorter commutes.
Best for: outdoorsy families, remote workers, buyers leaving high-cost West Coast cities
Watch-outs: housing affordability in hot markets, limited big-city amenities outside key metros
3) Alaska: the romantic pick with practical friction
Alaska is the most “love it or leave it” state on this list. People search it because it represents a clean break: space, wilderness, and a different pace. But relocating here tests budgets and routines: logistics, travel distances, and winter darkness aren’t lifestyle “details”—they’re the main plot.
Best for: adventure-minded households, mission-driven careers, people who genuinely want remoteness
Watch-outs: cost and supply-chain realities; “nature tax” in daily errands
Read more: Top 10 States With The Most Prisoners in the U.S
4) North Carolina: the balanced bet (jobs + livability)
If one state here feels like a diversified portfolio, it’s North Carolina: strong metros, universities, and a mix of coast and mountains. It also aligns with broader net-migration signals (North Carolina remains a prominent inbound destination in multiple datasets and coverage).
North Carolina’s risk is success: as demand rises, so do housing and traffic, especially where jobs cluster.
Best for: career climbers, families who want options, people seeking “not too extreme” weather
Watch-outs: affordability creep in top metros, sprawl
5) Maine: scenic calm, but the affordability story changed
Maine’s appeal is obvious: coastline, small-town charm, and a slower tempo. What’s less obvious is how much the housing math tightened post-2020. Local reporting notes sharp multi-year increases in median sale prices through 2025, intensifying affordability concerns.
In other words: Maine is desirable, but you’ll pay for the postcard.
Best for: remote workers, retirees, people optimizing for quiet over nightlife
Watch-outs: winter severity, housing affordability, seasonal economy in some areas
6) Tennessee: tax advantage + momentum, with a housing caveat
Tennessee’s relocation brand is built on growth and paycheck math. The state does not tax wage income, and Tennessee ended its last personal-income tax on dividends/interest (Hall tax) for periods beginning in 2021.
That tailwind helps, but hot markets can erase savings quickly if housing costs spike.
Best for: earners sensitive to taxes, music/culture seekers, job-switchers
Watch-outs: housing competition in boom corridors, infrastructure strain
7) Delaware: small state, big “friction reduction”
Delaware is a pragmatic move: close to major Northeast job hubs, but often cheaper and calmer. It also has a headline-friendly perk: no state or local sales tax.
Delaware’s downside is scale: fewer big-city options and a job market that can feel narrow depending on industry.
Best for: commuters, families who want Northeast access without Northeast prices
Watch-outs: limited metro depth; property costs vary sharply by area
8) South Dakota: low-tax simplicity with weather reality
South Dakota offers a clean financial pitch—no state income tax—and a more straightforward cost structure than many states.
But this is a lifestyle trade: winters are real, distances are real, and amenities can be thin outside key areas.
Best for: tax-conscious households, people comfortable with smaller-city living
Watch-outs: winter climate, fewer specialized services in rural regions
9) Alabama: affordability + coastline, with real migration momentum
Alabama’s case is getting stronger. Beyond “desirability” lists, recent coverage of U.S. Census domestic migration data reported Alabama ranking high for net domestic migration gains (July 2024 to July 2025).
The value proposition is consistent: lower cost of living, growing pockets of industry, and Gulf access. The challenge is unevenness: opportunity and amenities vary a lot by metro.
Best for: cost-conscious families, coastal-lifestyle buyers, value seekers
Watch-outs: metro-by-metro variability; climate and storm risk along the coast
10) Arkansas: the quiet climber
Arkansas has become a “micro-market” state: certain regions attract outsized interest due to job anchors and quality-of-life upgrades, while other areas remain purely affordability plays. It’s not a one-note bargain anymore—it’s a targeted move.
Best for: buyers seeking space, people relocating for specific hubs, outdoor recreation fans
Watch-outs: job market depends heavily on location; rural access tradeoffs
The sharp takeaway
This top 10 list is a map of what Americans are trying to buy with a move: more space, better weather, and a livable budget. But the states that win on “desirability” also share a risk: the faster they grow, the faster they can price out the very people they attract.
