West and southeast gain in appeal.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

The last year saw many people packing up and heading west and southeast, while Northern states, including New York and the Great Lakes area, experienced an increase in residents leaving, as measured by the business trends of United Van Lines, St. Louis, Mo. The statistics are among the findings of United's 28th annual migration study that tracks where its customers, over the last 12 months, moved from and the most popular destinations.

The accounting is based on the 222,040 interstate household moves handled by United among the 48 contiguous states, as well as Washington, D.C. In its study, the company classifies each state in one of three categories: high inbound (55% or more of moves going into a particular state); high outbound (55% or more of moves coming out of a particular state); or balanced. Although the majority of states were in the balanced category, several showed more substantial population shifts.

Movements into the Western portion of the U.S. increased, with Oregon continuing its 26-year inbound trend. It also had the highest inbound migration (63.7%) of all states in the study. Nevada (62.6%), Idaho (60.5%), and Arizona (60%) are the Western states that were classified as high inbound. Idaho has earned that distinction 17 years running.

In addition to the West welcoming more residents, the Southeast was a top destination. North Carolina (61.8%) and Alabama (61%) saw their highest-ever inbound percentages. South Carolina (60.2%) continued its decade-long inbound tradition, while Florida (59.9%) saw its highest inbound percentage since 1988.

With almost a six percent increase in inbound migration as...