Louisiana Is Worst State in South for Growth

SHREVEPORT, LA – We’ve heard all the reports about Louisiana losing people. Census data shows our  population has declined for 3 straight years. There’s now more evidence that out migration is a serious problem in the Bayou State.

U-Haul tracks movement of people based on truck rentals and the news is not good for Louisiana. But Texas tops the list for growth. The U-Haul report says:

Texas netted the largest number of movers in one-way U-Haul^® equipment in 2023, marking the third consecutive year it has finished atop the U-Haul Growth Index.

What Are the Top States for Growth?

1. Texas
2. Florida
3. North Carolina
4. South Carolina
5. Tennessee

More than 2.5 million people rented trucks to move to Texas in 2023. It’s the 3^rd straight year Texas has topped to chart.

What States Lost the Most People?

California tops this list again in 2023. It’s the 4^th year in a row California leads the pack for outmigration.

1. California
2. Massachusetts
3. Illinois
4. New Jersey
5. Michigan

Louisiana is next on this list checking in at #45. We are the only southern state in the bottom 10 in the nation for population losses. Mississippi is the only other southern state in the bottom 3^rd of all states, checking in at #39.

We must be clear this U-Haul migration data is not official data on population. But it is considered an “an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.”