What states are people in moving to and from?

Updated May. 13, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, most people moving to West Virginia came from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The top states people from West Virginia left for were Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Overall, about 36,800 people left West Virginia for another state. Meanwhile 43,900 moved in from elsewhere in the US. Newcomers from other states accounted for 2.5% of West Virginia's population.
West Virginia ranked 22 among states in total domestic net migration, with a gain of 7,200 residents.

1 in 40

people living in West Virginia moved in 2024 from another state

22nd

West Virginia'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, West Virginia had negative net migration with 15 states and Washington, DC.
West Virginia had a net increase of 3,100 residents with Pennsylvania, the highest among all states. The largest net decrease in 2024 was with Ohio at -2,200.

West Virginia had negative net migration with 12 states in 2024.

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

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

In 2024, 42.5% of the 35,100 people who left West Virginia for another state moved to just three destinations: Ohio (6,600), Virginia (5,000), and Pennsylvania (3,300).

In 2024, people leaving West Virginia most often moved to Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

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

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

Of the 42,500 people moving to West Virginia from another state between 2023 and 2024, 42.8% came from three states: Virginia (+7,300 residents), Pennsylvania (+6,400), and Ohio (+4,500).

In 2024, newcomers arrived in West Virginia most often from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

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

How does the share of people who moved from another state vary across West Virginia's 55 counties?

From 2020 to 2024, Monongalia County had the highest share of newcomers from other states, averaging 6.6% of its population each year. At the other end, Lincoln County recorded the lowest share, with 0.2% of residents moving in from another state.

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

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

Migration routes between West Virginia and other states (2024)

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

Virginia 

7,300
2.

Pennsylvania 

6,400
3.

Ohio 

4,500
4.

Maryland 

3,400
5.

North Carolina

2,800
6.

Florida 

2,500
7.

Texas 

2,300
8.

Oregon 

2,200
9.

Georgia 

1,700
10.

Kentucky 

1,100

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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.