For the third year in a row a survey by United Van Lines [Ed. updated link 3/17] suggests Vermont is a desirable location for people wishing to relocate. 
United is one of the nation’s largest moving companies and has tracked customer state-to-state migration for the past 40 years. In the 2016 national study Vermont moved up from third to the second of the top states with increases of inbound moves.
Moving In: The top inbound states of 2016 were:
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Oregon
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Washington
- District of Columbia
- North Carolina
- Nevada
- Arizona
Vermont’s jump continues our state’s trend up, which runs counter to other states’ trends in the Northeast. New Jersey tops outbound states with New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania continuing to have substantial outbound moves according to the United Van lines survey.
Despite certain demographic challenges to population growth (aging population, people leaving, and a low birth rate) Vermont is, at least according United’s survey, going against a trend toward outbound growth in Northeastern states. Although our population is staying the same or slightly declining we are doing something right regarding this positive trend.