Even during the pandemic, Americans are roaming the country in search of a better life.
About 40% are packing up for work, says United Van Lines, while 25% are leaving for family. The moving company releases data1 every year on the number of people joining and leaving each state.
While migration is normal, some unloved states are seeing far more people flooding out than pouring in. Here are the states Americans are fleeing the fastest:
20. Michigan
Outbound moves: 50.2%
Although Michigan begins our list of the top states people are fleeing, things aren’t all bad in the Great Lake State.
Michigan dropped 13 spots from last year’s United Van Lines list, and outbound moves are down by 6.6 percentage points.
However, unemployment remains high in Michigan at 6.9% in November, and life can be hard even for people who do find a job. Low wages are the norm, with most jobs paying less than $20 per hour.
Homerinthedetails, a redditor, feels Michigan also lacks a cultural hub.
“That means less fine arts, no world-class museums, fewer jobs in banking/finance. People who prefer/need big cities usually head for Chicago, New York, Boston or San Francisco,” they wrote.
“And the winters, oh god, the winters. They go on and on and on, and they are so dreary.”