Oklahoma ranks 11th in U-Haul's 2024 Growth Index, reflecting influx of new residents

This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com. 

Oklahoma has emerged as the 11th fastest-growing state in 2024, according to the U-Haul® Growth Index data that analyzed one-way customer transactions during the past year.  

Oklahoma moved up 30 spots from 2023, the largest increase of any state. Prior to 2024, the last time Oklahoma was a net-gain state (with more one-way U-Haul arrivals than departures) was 2020. 

U-Haul ranks growth states according to each state’s net gain or loss of one-way transactions in a calendar year. The index is derived from more than 2.5 million one-way truck, trailer and U-Box® portable moving container transactions conducted annually across the U.S. and Canada. 

Oklahoma’s growth reflects a net gain in one-way arrivals, with more customers moving into the state than leaving. In 2024, U-Haul customers arriving in Oklahoma accounted for 50.4% of all one-way traffic in and out of the state, while customer departures accounted for 49.6%. While Oklahoma saw a 2% increase in arrivals, departures dropped by 2% compared to the previous year. 

U-Haul Area District Vice President Brett Hogan shared the benefits Oklahoma has to offer, including a high quality of life and a low cost of living compared to other states.  

“We see growth around our two biggest markets: Oklahoma City and Tulsa,” Hogan said. “In the Oklahoma City area, there are cities like Edmond and Norman, which are known as bedroom communities and university towns, but you still see growth occurring there. Near Tulsa, you have Bixby, Broken Arrow and Owasso, all of which have seen new residents coming in.” 

Oklahoma’s notable leading growth cities are Ada, Bartlesville, Claremore, Edmond, El Reno, Guthrie, Mustang, Shawnee, Stillwater and Yukon. These cities have experienced an influx of new residents, contributing to the state’s rising popularity. 

South Carolina took the top spot as the nation’s fastest-growing state, moving up three positions and surpassing Texas, which ranked second. North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee rounded out the top five growth states for 2024. 

On the other end of the spectrum, California ranked last for the fifth consecutive year, with the largest net loss of U-Haul customers. States like Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico saw significant declines in growth, with losses of up to 31 spots. 

Although U-Haul rankings may not directly reflect population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index effectively measures how successful states and cities are at attracting and retaining residents.