Still a magnet: Oregon again top most moved-to state

For the second straight year, a major moving company’s survey finds that more people are moving to Oregon (as a percentage of overall moves) than any other state.

The survey, done by United Van Lines Moving, tracks customers’ migration patterns state-to-state during the course of the past year.

In 2014, the rate of people packing their bags for the Beaver State increased by 5 percent, and were double the percentage of people moving out of the state.

United Van Lines is a partner of Bend Storage and Transfer on Second Street. The company took data from the Bend location as part of the survey, and location owner Nancy Lynch says they tell a story of a busy year for business.

“Last year was probably the best year we’ve had in the last 5 years,” Lynch said Wednesday. “People kept calling me from out of state saying, ‘We need to move in here!'”

The survey only tracks moves made within the company and involving Oregon and another state. It won’t be until later in the year until more statistics come out detailing moves within Oregon and the causes for migration.

However, the survey also found that the leading reason for moving to Oregon was jobs.

Bend state Regional Economist Damon Runberg says that on the job front, Deschutes County not only continues that trend, but also sets it.

“According to Portland State University, Deschutes County was the fastest growing county in Oregon in 2014, gaining more jobs than any other in the state,” said Runber.

Despite the belief that job creation leads to migration, Runber says it’s retirement, ranked second on the survey reasons people moved to Oregon, that’s making Central Oregon the pacesetter.

“Nearly 40 percent of the population growth we see in Deschutes County is from ages 65 and older,” Runberg said.

It’s a statistic that hardly surprises those at the Bend Chamber of Commerce. President Tim Casey says for those looking to save money and spent their golden years in the great outdoors, there’s no better place to move to.

“Say you’re down in California, you could sell your home for $800,000 and come up here,” Casey said. “You buy a home for half of the price, put the rest in the bank and enjoy the lifestyle.”

As more and more wagons head west, it’s a trend that many seem to follow, even though Lynch says she won’t be surprised if she’s moving them again in the near future.

“After about three of four years, we move them either to Florida, Arizona, Nevada, or somewhere that’s warmer,” she laughed.

Moving In

The top inbound states of 2014 were:

1. Oregon

2. South Carolina

3. North Carolina

4. Vermont

5. Florida

Moving Out

The top outbound states for 2014 were:

1. New Jersey

2. New York

3. Illinois

4. North Dakota

5. West Virginia

For the full list, head to the company website.