Outbound moves: 49.4%
Mississippi offers not only a great music scene but also Gulf Coast beaches and delicious Southern comfort foods. But what the State doesn’t have is a myriad of job options. Unemployment is rampant here is and ranks as the highest in the nation: 5.4% during 2019, when the national rate was just 3.5%.
Mississippians like to say, “See y’all later,” in search of greener pastures. But that’s not the only explanation for them to leave. “It gets very HOT in Mississippi,” wrote Tom H. “There are tons of mosquitoes and biting flies too. Wonderful folks, but terrible conditions.”
Indiana
Total Outbound moves: 52.1%
The Hoosier State has one of the lowest costs of living, 15 percent lower than the U.S. average, which means residents can save a lot on essentials like food and housing. Compare that to California or Hawaii, and you'll see that your money can go a lot further there. There are a lively art scene and plenty of outdoor activities to do in spring and summer.
Despite the low cost of living, Indiana is better for residents who saved their pennies because the annual income is way below the national average (21.4 percent more economical).
Rhode Island
Outbound moves: 49.2%
As America's smallest State is having difficulty keeping residents within its 1,200 square miles, we all may wonder why that is? Rhode Islanders say decent work can be hard to come by — and you can't stay here unless you can find one.
"I love Rhode Island, but it's pricey," says a Reddit user called mooscaretaker. "Taxes are too high, and so is the cost of living — make sure you have a job prior to moving."
Arkansas
Outbound moves: 49.7%
Arkansas is renowned for its incredible parks and wildlife reserves, as well as its weather, being in the central Tornado Alley of the U.S. But regarding the job market, Arkansas doesn't give many people a good enough case to stay: Over 7% of those who pack their belongings into moving vans say they leave in search of work.
The Washington Post reported last year that the State became the first to require Medicaid recipients to hold jobs, which meant that thousands lost their health insurance in the months that followed. Clearly, Arkansas doesn't have enough work to go around.
Maine
Maine is a pleasant enough State, but we wouldn't necessarily want to retire here, or at least that's what the people said who are moving away. Nearly half of all Mainers who pick up and leave are headed for a better place — presumably a warmer environment. "It gets pretty cold during the wintertime. With a lot of wind and snow," writes Elsa K., on Quora. "I'm originally from Iceland, and the wintertime in Maine isn't as long or dark as in Iceland, but they feel colder and snowier."
Elsa added that the warmer weather in the summer months isn't much better: "There are so many insects, especially if you get away from the coast. Ticks, mosquitoes, and flies."