South Carolina was the fastest-growing state from July 2024 to July 2025, increasing 1.5% to an estimated 5,570,274 residents. Idaho ranked second at 1.4%, and North Carolina ranked third at 1.3%.
The ranking uses total population growth, which combines domestic migration, international migration, births, and deaths. It is not a list of the states receiving the most interstate movers.
The ten fastest-growing states
Percentage growth makes differently sized states easier to compare. Texas added the most residents in this top ten, but its larger starting population produced a lower percentage rate than South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina.
Population growth is broader than domestic migration
The National Association of Realtors reference keeps population, migration, and regional results in separate sections. Moveline uses that reader-friendly order so a total-growth ranking is not mistaken for a count of household moves.
The South led, while growth extended beyond one region
The Carolinas and Texas appear near the top, continuing the importance of the South in national growth. Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington show continued western growth, while Delaware represents the Northeast. The Midwest grew more slowly but every state in the region gained population in the Census release.
State averages conceal major differences among metros, counties, cities, and neighborhoods. A fast-growing state can contain slow local markets, and a slower-growing state can contain expanding job centers.
A fast-growing state still requires a city-level choice
South Carolina’s statewide rate combines Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, smaller cities, suburbs, and rural communities. The housing supply, insurance, commute, school system, weather risk, and moving access can differ substantially among them.
Repeat the comparison at three levels: state rules and broad prices, metro jobs and transportation, then the exact city and neighborhood. Visit if possible and test the normal weekday rather than relying only on a weekend tour or statewide average.
Turn a state ranking into a real destination comparison
Use Moveline’s state price comparison and migration report as separate inputs. A growth rate does not establish affordability or fit.
Growth can affect demand without fixing the moving price
Moveline’s agent network is responsible for more than one million U.S. moves every year, offering extensive experience with growing destinations while keeping each move tied to its own route and household. Popular destinations can place pressure on moving dates and housing availability, but the price still belongs to the route, home size, exact addresses, access, date, and services.
Request current written estimates and verify the mover’s interstate authority when crossing state lines. Refresh the ranking when Census publishes its next complete state vintage rather than mixing releases from different data years.
