Louisiana is the No. 45 growth state in the U.S., backsliding 10 spots from its previous ranking, according to the U-Haul^® Growth Index analyzing one-way customer moves during 2023. 

One-way U-Haul customers arriving in Louisiana fell 8% from 2022 while departures fell more than 5% as overall moving traffic slowed. 

Do-it-yourself movers arriving in Louisiana accounted for 49.2% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in and out of the Pelican State (50.8% departures). 

Louisiana’s top growth cities are Lake Charles, Hammond and Covington. Other notable net-gain markets include Lafayette, Gonzales, Zachary, Broussard, Carencro, Houma and Denham Springs. Chalmette, Prairieville and Youngsville are among several break-even markets. 

The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled according to the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks, trailers and U-Box moving containers arriving in a city or state, versus departing from that city or state, in a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul customer transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada. 

While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents. 

Find the complete 2023 U-Haul Growth States rankings at myuhaulstory.com.