GTT or “Gone to Texas” was a phrase used by those immigrating to Texas in the 1800s and it apparently still applies.
Houston remains the No. 1 U-Haul U.S. Destination City for the eighth year in a row, according to the latest U-Haul migration trends report.
While Houston witnessed a 3.4 percent decline in 2016 arrivals compared to 2015, it continued to be the busiest domestic market for incoming U-Haul trucks.
Following Houston in the destination rankings are Chicago, San Antonio, Orlando and Austin. Rounding out the top 10 are Las Vegas, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Charlotte. Dallas comes in at No. 17, while Fort Worth shows up at No. 24.
Fort Worth witnessed a 1.6 percent decrease in 2016 arrivals compared to 2015, but still managed to replicate its 2015 ranking, according to the report.
U-Haul International, a leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage, has been counting down the Top 10 U.S. Destination Cities leading up to Memorial Day weekend, which marks the unofficial start of moving season. Roughly 45 percent of all U-Haul moves occur now through Labor Day.
U-Haul Destination Cities are ranked according to the total number of arriving one-way U-Haul truck rentals to a city in the past calendar year. Destination Cities do not account for departing traffic, and thus do not necessarily reflect growth like U-Haul Growth Cities. Destination Cities reflect the volume and regularity of do-it-yourself movers coming into a community.
“Houston is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Jerry Lunn, U-Haul Company of Gulf Coast Texas president. “In the last year, I’ve seen countless skyscrapers and condos being built. U-Haul is continuously expanding its locations and buying space for new facilities to accommodate the do-it-yourself movers and self-storage customers coming to the area.”
Job opportunities and a diverse selection of industries play a major role in Houston maintaining the top destination spot.
“Houston is the country’s No. 1 job creator,” said Gabriel Mendieta, U-Haul Company of East Houston president. “This city is home to 24 Fortune 500 companies. The cost of living is low, and with low taxes, your paycheck goes further.”
U-Haul’s numbers are bolstered by a report May 25 from the U.S. Census Bureau which said 10 of the 15 fastest-growing cities with populations of 50,000 or more were spread across the South in 2016, with four of the top five found in Texas.
Conroe, a northern Houston suburb, was the fastest-growing of the 15, seeing a 7.8 percent increase from 2015 to 2016, a growth rate more than 11 times that of the nation.
U-Haul Top 50 U.S. Destination Cities for 2016
(2015 ranking in parentheses)
1. HOUSTON, TX (1)
2. CHICAGO, IL (2)
3. SAN ANTONIO, TX (5)
4. ORLANDO, FL (3)
5. AUSTIN, TX (4)
6. LAS VEGAS, NV (6)
7. BROOKLYN, NY (7)
8. PHILADELPHIA, PA (8)
9. KANSAS CITY, MO (9)
10. CHARLOTTE, NC (14)
11. COLUMBUS, OH (15)
12. PHOENIX, AZ (10)
13. SAN DIEGO, CA (13)
14. JACKSONVILLE, FL (12)
15. TAMPA, FL (16)
16. SACRAMENTO, CA (11)
17. DALLAS, TX (17)
18. TUCSON, AZ (20)
19. INDIANAPOLIS, IN (18)
20. ATLANTA, GA (23)
21. ST. LOUIS, MO (21)
22. LOS ANGELES, CA (22)
23. BRONX, NY (19)
24. FORT WORTH, TX (24)
25. MIAMI, FL (25)
26. PORTLAND, OR (29)
27. SAN FRANCISCO, CA (30)
28. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (31)
29. NASHVILLE, TN (33)
30. WASHINGTON, D.C. (26)
31. DENVER, CO (40)
32. BALTIMORE, MD (27)
33. CINCINNATI, OH (32)
34. PLANO, TX (34)
35. RICHMOND, VA (42)
36. KNOXVILLE, TN (35)
37. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (44)
38. RALEIGH, NC (38)
39. SAN JOSE, CA (43)
40. MANHATTAN, NY (37)
41. RENO, NV (36)
42. LOUISVILLE, KY (39)
43. MADISON, WI (45)
44. SEATTLE, WA (41)
45. TACOMA, WA (47)
46. COLUMBIA, SC (28)
47. ALEXANDRIA, VA (NR)
48. MEMPHIS, TN (NR)
49. BAKERSFIELD, CA (50)
50. DURHAM, NC (NR)