Where is America Moving? Tennessee an Inbound State

NEWSLETTERSMIGRATIONTENNESSEE

Kenneth Bargers

6/30/20262 min read

Where is America Moving? Tennessee remains and Inbound state. July 2026 Newsletter
Where is America Moving? Tennessee remains and Inbound state. July 2026 Newsletter

Where is America Moving?

Kenneth Bargers | July 2026 Newsletter

Tennessee continues to be a favored destination Inbound state.

The Middle Tennessee residential real estate market’s Spring production was very active with a solid performance. Overall M-T-M and Y-T-Y produced improvements for the Greater Nashville area. As we enter the second half of 2026, it is a good time to evaluate if the buyers and sellers’ goals were local moves or migrating from other states.

Understanding the shift in domestic migration and how it reshapes the Nashville landscape is an important factor for future housing needs and available inventory. Will Tennessee continue to be an Inbound state at the end of 2026? Will local confidence in real estate investment continue? In 2025, Tennessee was once again an Inbound state per several research reports and surveys. A few examples are:

  • US Census Bureau ranked Tennessee in Top 10 Inbound States for 2025

  • U-Haul ranked Tennessee at #4 Inbound in 2025

  • Newsweek’s PODS report also included Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville in the top 20 Inbound cities.

  • North American Moving Services ranked Tennessee as #4 Inbound for 2025

  • Atlas Van Lines report ranked Tennessee as the #6 Inbound state for 2025

2025 Migration Patterns Study: Affordability a Top Factor Influencing Moves

Conducted annually since 1993, the Migration Patterns Study measures Atlas customers’ interstate, interprovince, and international moves. This year’s study measures relocations from Nov. 1, 2024, to Oct. 31, 2025, to gauge where people moved from and where they moved to.

In 2025, Atlas’ interstate moves held steady compared to years past, aligning with recent U.S. Census data. Despite this, overall mobility remains low today, primarily due to affordability constraints such as the high cost of homeownership and limited inventory. The continued volume of interstate moves, even as the median age of first-time homebuyers climbs and home sales slow, highlights the industry's role as a consistent facilitator of necessary life and professional transitions amidst challenging market conditions.

The Migration Patterns Study shows a wide spread of inbound and outbound states. In the southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee ranked high on the inbound list.

TENNESSEE

Live! Work! Play! Tennessee continues to be a popular destination as evidenced by the Inbound classification of 14 out of the most recent 15 years. Tennessee’s 4 major population cores of Greater Nashville, Greater Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville lead an influx of relocation due to the citizen-centric framework that designs local public policies, governance, and services around the needs and experiences of the public. These large, populated areas offer a richness of diversity and cultures, employment opportunities, expansive retail, health support systems, outdoor living, parks and recreation, entertainment, and leading schools and universities system.

Middle Tennessee’s Greater Nashville area continues to lead with corporate relocations, business-friendly environment, tourism and growth. Understanding the shift in domestic migration and how it reshapes the Nashville landscape is key to future planning. The influx of new residents isn't just changing our population numbers—it's evolving our housing market dynamics.

INBOUND STATES

  1. Arkansas

  2. Idaho

  3. North Carolina

  4. Hawaii

  5. Washington D.C.

  6. Tennessee

  7. Washington

  8. Alabama

  9. North Dakota

  10. New Hampshire

OUTBOUND STATES

  1. Louisiana

  2. West Virginia

  3. Wyoming

  4. Delaware

  5. Nebraska

  6. Arizona

  7. Iowa

  8. Oklahoma

  9. South Dakota

  10. South Carolina

INBOUND International

  1. India

  2. France

  3. Canada

  4. Turkey

  5. Spain

  6. Thailand

  7. Senegal

  8. Philippines

  9. Vietnam

  10. Belgium

OUTBOUND International

  1. Bangladesh

  2. Tanzania

  3. Cambodia

  4. Mexico

  5. Pakistan

  6. Indonesia

  7. Estonia

  8. China

  9. Greece

  10. Macedonia

Watch: The Migration Shift

Where Americans Moved 1995-2025 Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns Time-lapse Map

Copyright © 2026 Kenneth Sells Nashville | Nashville Kenneth All Rights Reserved. All information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed; Buyer's/Seller's Agent to verify all pertinent information.

KENNETH M BARGERS LIC 318311 (615) 512-9836 M kb@kennethsellsnashville.com E realestate@nashvillekenneth.com E kennethsellsnashville.com W nashvillekenneth.com W

ADARO Realty LIC 261466 (615) 376-1688 O 1187 Old Hickory Blvd, Suite 125, Brentwood TN 37027 A adarorealty.com W an agency of Crye-Leike Real Estate Services