Support Us Button Widget

How did South Carolinians move in 2020?

Downtown Greenville

Downtown Greenville | Photo by @sonerakbas_

The events of 2020 influenced lots of our decisions – especially decisions about moving – with many people changing jobs or their jobs becoming partially or fully remote. People were definitely packing up their U-Hauls + hitting the road.

So, how did people move last year?

We took a look at United Van Lines’ National Migration Study, which shows where and also why Americans moved in the year 2020. What do those stats look like for South Carolina? If you remember back in November, we told you all about how Greenville was becoming a “Zoom Town” as people were moving to our area as a result of remote work being on the rise. But let’s take a closer look at our state’s 2020 moving patterns.

Screen Shot 2021-01-20 at 3.58.24 PM

Reasons for South Carolina moving in 2020 | Image from the United Van Lines’ National Migration Study

Let’s break it down.

Total percentage of inbound migration: 64%

Total percentage of outbound migration: 36%

Factors for migration both inbound + outbound were: retirement, health, family, lifestyle, and job, with retirement being the biggest reason for inbound movers and job being the biggest reason for outbound movers.

screen-shot-2021-01-20-at-3-58-33-pm-300x125.png

Over 30% of folks both moving to and from the state of SC in 2020 were aged 65+.

screen-shot-2021-01-20-at-3-58-47-pm-300x134.png

The highest income range for both inbound and outbound movers for SC in 2020 was an income of $150,000 or more.

According to the study, South Carolina ranks among the top inbound states alongside states like Oregon, South Dakota, and Arizona. Some states experiencing the largest exoduses were New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and California.

More from GVLtoday
We’re looking at the request for proposal to bring in an architect for the project, plus other city halls with features that caught our eye.
It’s the first time the Paladins have ever made it to the College Cup.
Our readers have spoken — here are the best local spots our city has to offer, from the best coffee shop to the best apartment complex to the best dentist.
This year brought development updates, restaurant news, and the final pieces of Unity Park, and GVLtoday was there to cover it all. We’re looking back at 2025’s top stories with our fourth-annual GVLtoday wrapped.
A first-of-its-kind concept in Greenville, the incubator aims to give chefs and business owners the resources they need to succeed.
We asked you to share local organizations, and we’re highlighting them all during this season of giving.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Greenville is made up of so many wonderful small businesses, here are a few our readers love in honor of Small Business Saturday.
The Palmetto Bowl returns to Memorial Stadium this weekend.