A desire to be closer to family was the main reason people moved to Wyoming in 2021 — the same reason a high number of people questioned by United Van Lines gave for moving out of the state.
United, in its annual “National Movers Study,” said of the people it questioned who used its equipment to move in or out of Wyoming, 30.7% said they were moving to the state to be closer to family, mirroring a national trend.
“This year’s survey results indicated 31.8% of Americans who moved did so in order to be closer to family — a new trend coming out of the pandemic as priorities and lifestyle choices shift,” the report said.
As for those leaving the state, almost 26.1% said they were doing so to be closer to family. That left family tied with “lifestyle” as the second-most popular choice for leaving Wyoming.
The most popular reason given for leaving Wyoming was retirement at 30.4%. In contrast, 28.2% of those moving into the state gave “retirement” as the reason.
The company’s report said almost the same number of people left Wyoming via United as became new residents.
United said it handled 626 shipments in Wyoming in 2021 — 314 for people moving into the state and 312 for people leaving the state.
“Several states saw nearly the same number of residents moving inbound as outbound,” the report said. “Kentucky and Wyoming are among these ‘balanced states.’”
The highest percentage of those moving into Wyoming, 40%, were age 65 or older, the study said. That same age group made up the biggest percentage of people leaving the state — 58.8%.
The people moving into Wyoming generally make more money than those moving out, the study showed.
Of those moving in, more than half, 56.3%, reported an annual income of $150,000 or more, while only 16.7% of those moving out had a similar income.
Most of those leaving the state, 41.7%, had an income of $100,000 to $149,000.
