Americans are a mobile population, generally comfortable withthe idea of moving away from their childhood homes for college,jobs, new ventures or to be closer to family. Some people in themilitary or corporate jobs have moved as often as every twoyears.
|Knowing the states that people are moving out of can helpinsurance agents and brokers plan for the potential loss of clientswho relocate to another state. It can also help those agents andbrokers provide the best information available to their clients asthey transition from one state to another.
|Related: Here are the top 10 states people aremoving into
|It's important for insurance agents and brokers to review movingpatterns because when large numbers of people move away from anarea, the situation has a ripple effect on the city or state'seconomy. Marginal small businesses — which often make up a majorityof a small agency's clients — could go under from a lack ofcustomers, resulting in one less client for the agency.
|UnitedVan Lines, based in Fenton, Missouri, which moves peoplelocally, nationally and internationally, has been tracking whichstates people are moving to and from for 40 years. They alsosurvey their customers to understand whythey've chosen to relocate from one state to another.
|“This year's data clearly reflects retirees' locationpreferences,” said Michael A. Stoll, economist, professor in theDepartment of Public Policy at the University of California, LosAngeles. “We are seeing more retirees than ever decide to relocate,and as a result, new retirement hubs are popping up in Western andSouthern states. Interestingly enough, these retirees are leavingat such a fast pace that the movement of millennials to urban areasis being overshadowed.”
|Here are the top outbound states of 2016, according to UnitedVan Lines' survey:
|
The Liberty Bell in Liberty Bell Center in IndependenceNational Historical Park. (Photo: iStock)
|10. Pennsylvania
The role that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had to play in theAmerican Revolution and the early years of the U.S. is generallywhat most people think of when they think of the state, withvisions of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Benjamin Franklin.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 6,868
|Total shipments out of state: 3,829
|Percent of total shipments: 55.8 percent
|Related: When a workers' comp case turns into a minefield oflitigation 
The Utah State Capital building in Salt LakeCity. (Photo: iStock)
|9. Utah
Although closely identified with the Mormon Church, Utah is also home to beautiful scenery and iswell known for its ski resorts — a significant factor in itsselection to host the 2002 Winter Olympics.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 2,094
|Total shipments out of state: 1,172
|Percent of total shipments: 56.0 percent
|Related: 15 cities with the best-paying cybersecurityjobs
|
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame located in Cleveland,Ohio. (Photo: iStock)
|8. Ohio
Few states bring to mind the Midwest as much as Ohio does, with a mix ofmanufacturing (steel, autos and appliances) and agriculture, aswell as Ohio StateUniversity and its celebrated football team. Bordered on thenorth by Lake Erie, the state's economy also includes shipping andtransportation.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 7,049
|Total shipments out of state: 3,995
|Percent of total shipments: 56.7 percent
|Related: 20 most helpful state insurancewebsites
|
A coal mine in WestVirginia. (Photo: iStock)
|7. West Virginia
Most people picture coal mines and rural poverty when they thinkof West Virginia. The state has added chemicals andbiotech to its economy, and several federal agencies haveestablished back-office operations there, including the FederalBureau of Investigation's CriminalJustice Services Division and the U.S. Department of theTreasury's Bureau of the Public Debt.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 547
|Total shipments out of state: 314
|Percent of total shipments: 57.4 percent
|Related: What insurers should know before ditching coal frominvestment portfolios
|
Main entrance to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky,where the Kentucky Derby is held annually on the first Saturday inMay. (Photo: iStock)
|6. Kentucky
Probably best known for the KentuckyDerby, the state also has a reputation for tobacco farmsand the start of the KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) fast-food chain. It'salso known for bourbon, bluegrass music and horse farms.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 2,919
|Total shipments out of state: 1,704
|Percent of total shipments: 58.4 percent
|Related: Profiling insurance pros under 40: VirginiaGoff
|
A misty sunrise over a wheat field inKansas. (Photo: iStock)
|5. Kansas
Who can forget Dorothy's famous line in The Wizard of Oz: “Toto, I've a feeling we're not inKansas anymore.” From the movie, Kansas evokes family farms, rolling wheatfields and tornados. Its economy is still heavily agrarian.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 2,329
|Total shipments out of state: 1,388
|Percent of total shipments: 59.6 percent
|Related: 4 options to consider when adjusting HVAC hailclaims
|
Classic New England church in Connecticut. (Photo:iStock)
|4. Connecticut
One of the original 13 colonies, many of Connecticut's townscould be the backdrop for a Norman Rockwell painting of the towngreen and Congregational Church with its white steeple or thesetting of “Moby Dick” in Mystic. Although the defense industry inthe state is fading, it's still home to several large insurancecompanies and YaleUniversity, one of the top three in the U.S.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 3,076
|Total shipments out of state: 1,849
|Percent of total shipments: 60.1 percent
|Related: 10 richest states in America
|
Niagara Falls at sunrise, on the American side. (Photo:iStock)
|3. New York
The state of NewYork, with a population of almost 20 million, ranges from theBig Apple of Manhattan to Niagara Falls on the Canadian border, withcities and towns of all sizes in between. The economy as well has abroad range from agriculture to the financial services found inWall Street.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 8,846
|Total shipments out of state: 5,554
|Percent of total shipments: 62.8 percent
|Related: Proposed changes to NY cybersecurity regs couldaffect financial institutions
|
View of Wacker Drive and train in Chicago,Illinois. (Photo: iStock)
|2. Illinois
Illinois is another state that ranges from sophisticatedChicago at the tip of Lake Michigan to worn out coal towns in thesouth and farming communities in between.
Total shipments in and out of state: 8,782
|Total shipments out of state: 5,521
|Percent of total shipments: 62.9 percent
|Related: 15 costliest U.S. winter weather events by insuredlosses, 1980-2015 
Beach boardwalk in New Jersey. (Photo:iStock)
|1. New Jersey
A state with 130 miles of beautiful Atlantic seashore, New Jersey is also home toa number of musicians including the late Frank Sinatra, BruceSpringsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. It has a diverse economy and culture,from the sophisticated New York City suburbs, to Atlantic City, toPrincetonUniversity, to the vegetable farms known.
|Total shipments in and out of state: 5,489
|Total shipments out of state: 3,471
|Percent of total shipments: 63.2 percent
|Related: 12 ways the U.S. is using nature to protect againstnatural disasters
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Rosalie Donlon
Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].
