Outbound moves: 51.8%
Mountains and rivers draw visitors to the “wild and wonderful” West Virginia, but the economy isn’t doing so well, which is why the younger generation is leaving. Unemployment is higher compared to most other states, and job growth has been slow.
More than half the people leaving the State are between the ages of 18 and 44, and over 70% of those who leave are searching for jobs elsewhere. Many local businesses are struggling to grow within the job market.
Virginia
Outbound moves: 51.6%
More people seem to be moving out than moving in, even though the State's suburbs are booming. Still, the rural parts in southern Virginia are quickly losing residents, researchers at the University of Virginia recently reported.
About half of those who leave the birthplace of their nation do so to look for better employment opportunities elsewhere, a little over a fourth of those who hit the road, did so to move closer to family, and approximately a quarter leave because they're thinking about retiring somewhere else.
Utah
Outbound moves: 51.7%
It seems that the State's breathtakingly beautiful features — including its snowcapped mountains and national parks filled with fantastic rock formations — still aren't enough to persuade many residents to stay.
The hunt for a new job is the main driving force behind 65% of people deciding to move, but rising prices of housing in Utah may also be part of the equation. The median cost for an existing single-family home in Salt Lake City has increased 8% over the last year to $358,000, the National Association of Realtors said in a recent report.
Nebraska
Outbound moves: 52.6%
The famous investor Warren Buffett also lives in Nebraska, but many others have concluded that the Cornhusker State just isn't the right fit. A hefty 70% of those who move away are leaving in search of work, United Van Lines found.
A 2018 report bemoaned that the lack of high-paying jobs is the leading cause of their "brain-drain." Hank Robinson, a researcher at the University of Nebraska, said in an interview for the Omaha World-Herald, "We don't need more minimum wage, jobs that require no-experience."
Maryland
Outbound moves: 53.1%
Maryland is filled with history and outdoor adventures — but people don't necessarily want to stay. The high cost of living, above-average medical costs, unreasonable taxes, and expensive property prices are all forcing Marylanders to look elsewhere for jobs and affordable retirement.
Half of the people who left were 55 and older — which isn't as shocking when we consider that we found it's one of the very worst States for older residents. The governor of Maryland has proposed cutting taxes in the State by $500 million within the next five years.