People are moving out of MS to these 10 states the most, 2026 Census data shows
A majority of people who moved out of Mississippi in 2024 found their new home in other Southern states, new U.S. Census data shows.
Although the Magnolia State gained more residents than it lost in 2024, an estimated 55,200 people moved to a different state, according to the data published Jan. 21.
Texas was the top state folks moved to from Mississippi, accounting for more than 11,000 moves, the data shows. Alabama and Tennessee followed closely, with more than 7,500 and 7,200 departures, respectively.
Here are the top states that people moved to from Mississippi in 2024, according to Census data.
Which states gained the most folks from MS in 2024?
These are the top 10 states where people moved to from Mississippi, according to Census data:
1. Texas: 11,003
2. Alabama: 7,574
3. Tennessee: 7,292
4. Louisiana: 5,108
5. Florida: 4,724
6. Georgia: 3,304
7. Arkansas: 2,005
8. California: 1,778
9. Oklahoma: 1,323
10. New York: 1,238
Why do people leave Mississippi?
A December study by United Van Lines, a moving service company, found the following top three reasons for why Mississippians move away:
1. Job opportunities, 34.5% of respondents
2. Family, 27.3%
3. Retirement, 10.9%
Full census breakdown
Here’s how many people moved out of Mississippi to each state and the District of Columbia in 2024, according to Census data:
- Alabama: 7,574
- Alaska: N (Not available or not enough data)
- Arizona: 471
- Arkansas: 2,005
- California: 1,778
- Colorado: 495
- Connecticut: N
- Delaware: N
- District of Columbia: N
- Florida: 4,724
- Georgia: 3,304
- Hawaii: 264
- Idaho: 0
- Illinois: 722
- Indiana: 277
- Iowa: 83
- Kansas: 349
- Kentucky: 545
- Louisiana: 5,108
- Maine: 0
- Maryland: 219
- Massachusetts: N
- Michigan: 260
- Minnesota: 142
- Missouri: 605
- Montana: 0
- Nebraska: 0
- Nevada: 170
- New Hampshire: N
- New Jersey: N
- New Mexico: N
- New York: 1,238
- North Carolina: 734
- North Dakota: N
- Ohio: 880
- Oklahoma: 1,323
- Oregon: N
- Pennsylvania: 631
- Rhode Island: 0
- South Carolina: 446
- South Dakota: N
- Tennessee: 7,292
- Texas: 11,003
- Utah: 197
- Vermont: 0
- Virginia: 563
- Washington: 294
- West Virginia: 0
- Wisconsin: N
- Wyoming: N
