Oregon Tops List Of Moving Destinations In 2025 – KXL

Portland, Ore. –  For the first time, Oregon tops the list of states people moved to in 2025,  according to a new study. The survey was conducted by United Van Lines, showing 65% of their Oregon moves this year were inbound. But, that doesn’t mean the population is booming.

Business Oregon economist Damon Runberg says inbound migration is only part of the equation, “The other side of population growth is natural increase, which is the difference between the number of people born each year versus those that die.” And that “natural increase” is in the negative, because of an aging population and low birth rate. Runberg says in-migration still slightly outpaces the death rate, leaving Oreogn with a net increase. “We’re still growing,” he says, albeit slowly, according to the latest population study from Portland State University. “And that 0.3% that we’ve seen annually, so far, in the last five years, is a reflection of that positive net migration.”

According to the United Van Lines study, the top reason to move to Oregon is for a new job or company transfer. Runberg says, again, the moving company’s numbers don’t provide the big picture. “Business Oregon did our own study about businesses migration – businesses not people – and found that there was significant investment happening by businesses outside the state; businesses either moving or choosing to expand elsewhere.”

United Van Lines lists Eugene-Springfield as the top Oregon metro area, which was a bit of a surprise to Eugene Association of Realtors President Celeste Schmorde, “I wouldn’t say that it is a perfect reflection of the market. Our market has been somewhat flat, which isn’t a bad thing considering high interest rates, the lack of inventory and other challenges we’ve faced.” But, she’s not surprised Oregon is popular with people moving from out of state, “Oregon is a really attractive West Coast state. So, people who are interested in this part of the country are going to key in on Oregon, due to our comparative affordability.” And, that affordability, Schmorde believes, is what also makes Eugene-Springfield attractive, “Because it offers things that all of Oregon offers: beauty, community, arts and culture, higher education, a lot of tech and medical jobs. And, yet, it is a more affordable metro area.” She notes, it also has a more temperate climate than Central Oregon or the coast, and less negative press than the Portland area. “‘Happy Medium,’ that’s what I hear about our community.”

At the bottom of the United Van Lines survey: New Jersey saw more people move out this year, than any other state.