What states are people in moving to and from?

Updated May. 13, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, most people moving to Montana came from California, Washington state, and Colorado. The top states people from Montana left for were California, Washington state, and Colorado. Overall, about 35,400 people left Montana for another state. Meanwhile 36,200 moved in from elsewhere in the US. Newcomers from other states accounted for 3.2% of Montana's population.
Montana ranked 34th among states in total domestic net migration, with a gain of 712 residents.

1 in 30

people living in Montana moved in 2024 from another state

34th

Montana's rank in net state-to-state migration (2024)
Along with immigration and natural population change, state-to-state migration is one of the three ways a state's population may shift. In 2024, Montana had positive net migration with 23 states.
Montana had a net increase of 2,300 residents with California, the highest among all states. The largest net decrease in 2024 was with Washington state at -2,700.

Montana had positive net migration with 20 states in 2024.

Net migration between Montana and other states, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from Montana moved to another state in the past year?

In 2024, 38.3% of the 34,900 people who left Montana for another state moved to just three destinations: Washington state (6,300), Arizona (4,300), and Oregon (2,800).

In 2024, people leaving Montana most often moved to Washington state, Arizona, and Oregon.

People moving from Montana to another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from another state moved to Montana in the past year?

Of the 35,900 people moving to Montana from another state between 2023 and 2024, 32.1% came from three states: California (+4,900 residents), Washington state (+3,600), and Colorado (+3,000).

In 2024, newcomers arrived in Montana most often from California, Washington state, and Colorado.

People moving to Montana from another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How does the share of people who moved from another state vary across Montana's 56 counties?

From 2020 to 2024, Gallatin County had the highest share of newcomers from other states, averaging 6.3% of its population each year. At the other end, McCone County recorded the lowest share, with 0% of residents moving in from another state.

The share of the population that moved from another state in a given year varies throughout Montana.

Annual average of share of population 1 year or older who moved from another state in the previous year (2020–2024)

Migration routes between Montana and other states (2024)

Migration routes between Montana and other states (2024)
Residence 1 year agoEstimate
1.

California 

4,900
2.

Washington state

3,600
3.

Colorado 

3,000
4.

Arizona 

2,300
5.

Texas 

2,100
6.

Alaska 

1,800
7.

Oregon 

1,600
8.

Minnesota 

1,400
9.

Florida 

1,400
10.

Idaho 

1,300

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.