Southern states grew by more than 1.3 million people last year, making it the fastest-growing region in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The South experienced a growth of 1.1% over 2021, largely driven by domestic and international migration. Since 2018, the South has experienced increasing year-to-year net domestic migration and is the most populous region in the U.S. at 128.7 million people.
During the same time period, northeastern states lost around 219,000 residents to other states and the Midwest lost about 49,000. Meanwhile the West was the only other region to see population growth, though it was modest: it gained about 153,000 residents, a .2% increase.
Nationwide, population growth rebounded last year as births increased and more people moved across state lines, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Florida was the fastest-growing state in 2022.
“While Florida has often been among the largest-gaining states, this was the first time since 1957 that Florida has been the state with the largest percent increase in population," Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the population division at the census bureau, said in a statement.
Between 2021 and 2022, the following states had the most growth:
Florida (1.9%)
Idaho (1.8%)
South Carolina (1.7%)
Texas (1.6%)
South Dakota (1.5%)
Montana (1.5%)
Delaware (1.4%)
Arizona (1.3%)
North Carolina (1.3%)
Utah (1.2%)
Last year, 91,000 of the nearly 550,000 New Yorkers who left the state moved to Florida. That's more than any other state where New Yorkers relocated.
The top reasons Americans moved in 2022 were to improve their quality of life, live in a cheaper area, and get a bigger home.
Nearly a quarter of people said quality of life was the most important factor in why they moved states, according to a survey from Home Bay, a California-based real estate brokerage.
New Yorkers on the move: More than half a million people left New York in 2022.
California to Texas: A move from California to Texas could save a million dollars.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why more Americans moved to the South last year than any other region
