After abandoning Democratic strongholds throughout the rest of the nation, South Carolina has surpassed Florida and Texas as the top state where Americans are relocating.
Since the COVID lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, Americans have been leaving blue areas in droves, citing their desire for better employment and reduced taxes.
This pattern has persisted, according to new IRS statistics that monitored migration in 2022 and 2023.In terms of the number of new residents per capita, South Carolina has now surpassed both Florida and Texas.
Due to the high taxation, crime, and homelessness problems that have persisted in big cities, those citizens are largely leaving places like California and New York.
According to research, South Carolina has been ranked highly for migration inside the United States in recent years.
In 2022 and 2023, the Palmetto State welcomed 59,000 new residents from around the United States, or one new resident for every 100 existing people.
Due to this migration, South Carolina has witnessed an increase in tax revenue of almost $4.1 billion, with 29,000 new residents filing taxes in the state.
Even though South Carolina had the highest per capita rate, Texas and Florida still outnumbered it in terms of the number of new residents who filed taxes.
After abandoning Democratic strongholds around the nation, South Carolina has surpassed Florida and Texas as the most popular destination for Americans. The Reedy River is crossed by a footbridge at RiverPlace in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
The county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, is the city of Beaufort. It is South Carolina’s second-oldest city.
Since then, the trend has persisted; according to The New York Post, people were still moving to South Carolina in 2025.
According to a migration-tracking HireAHelper data published by the outlet, South Carolina gained about 80 new inhabitants for every 10,000 existing residents.
In 2023, 56,473 new residents filed in Texas, and another 55,349 in Florida.
In 2022 and 2023, people are opting to leave two of the most liberal, high-tax states.
Under Governor Gavin Newsom, California lost more than 100,000 filers and about $12 billion in tax income during these years.
New York, led by Governor Kathy Hochul, was not far behind, losing $10 billion in income due to the departure of 72,000 residents.
The trend has persisted into 2026, with several companies opting to relocate to the south from blue states.
Dell Technologies, which Michael Dell created in his dorm room at the University of Texas in 1984, has informed shareholders that it intends to relocate its legal headquarters to Texas.
In 2022 and 2023, the Palmetto State welcomed 59,000 new residents from around the United States, or one new resident for every 100 existing people.
Charleston, South Carolina’s central commercial sector, which combines modern and old architecture
The decision to move Dell’s state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas, placing its legal home in the same state as its long-standing Round Rock headquarters, has been unanimously accepted by the company’s board. Next month, it needs to be approved by shareholders.
It is a symbolic win for Texas and another warning shot for Delaware, which has more than 60% of the S&P 500 among its incorporated businesses and collects around $2 billion in corporate franchise fees annually.
Dell is the most recent in a long line of Wall Street behemoths moving to red states with laxer regulations and lower taxes.
Major tech firms including Tesla, Oracle, Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon already have significant offices and activities in Austin.
Cost reductions and a more business-friendly atmosphere are the main reasons why many firms choose to relocate their headquarters to Texas.
Companies can profit from lower taxes, cheaper property, and lower office costs than in blue states like California or New York. Additionally, Texas does not charge a personal state income tax, which is a big selling factor for executives and staff.
Additionally, the state has established a reputation for less stringent regulations and quicker growth prospects.
Permitting and development are frequently simpler and less expensive for businesses wishing to build factories, warehouses, office buildings, or data centers than in states with stricter regulations.
In recent months, Michael and Susan Dell, the founders of Dell, have also strongly supported Donald Trump’s government.
