Kentucky’s 107K new residents moved from these 10 states the most, Census data shows
Roughly 4.5 million people live in Kentucky, and migration from nearby states helping the Bluegrass State to grow, new U.S. Census data shows.
Overall, Kentucky gained an estimated 106,797 people from other states in 2023, year-over-year, according to the recent Census data. But where are the most new Kentucky residents coming from?
Nearby states like Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana drew the most new residents to Kentucky last year, but many came from as far as Texas, California and Florida, among other places. The Bluegrass State, ranked the 26th-most populous state as of 2023 Census estimates, gained more than 4,000 new residents from seven different states.
Here’s what you need to know about Kentucky’s recent interstate migration totals, according to Census data.
Kentucky gained the most residents from these states in 2023
Here’s a look at the states from which Kentucky drew the most new residents last year, according to recently published Census data:
- Tennessee: 14,444 new Kentucky residents
- Ohio: 13,249 new Kentucky residents
- Indiana: 8,310 new Kentucky residents
- California: 5,838 new Kentucky residents
- Texas: 5,471 new Kentucky residents
- Florida: 5,243 new Kentucky residents
- Washington: 4,273 new Kentucky residents
- New Hampshire: 3,667 new Kentucky residents
- Michigan: 3,619 new Kentucky residents
- Georgia: 3,491 new Kentucky residents
Additionally, roughly 27,761 people migrated to the Bluegrass State from outside the U.S., Census data projects. That figure includes territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus foreign countries.
In a 2023 study, long-distance moving company United Van Lines estimated the largest portion of new Kentucky residents (39.2%) moved to the Bluegrass State for family. About 34% of new residents moved there for work, while about 8% of the migration influx came for retirement purposes.
Roughly 56.3% of Kentucky’s incoming residents in 2023 had household incomes exceeding $150,000, the company’s survey notes. About 15.6% make between $100,000 and $149,999 annually.
United Van Lines’ percentage estimates may not completely line up with demographic data or equal 100%, the company notes, due to each respondent’s ability to skip survey questions or select more than one response.
Kentucky’s full migration breakdown
Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of the Census’ estimated migration of new residents to Kentucky from every state and the District of Columbia in 2023:
- Alabama: 7,782
- Alaska: 549
- Arizona: 2,484
- Arkansas: 373
- California: 5,838
- Colorado: 1,858
- Connecticut: 138
- Delaware: 0
- District of Columbia: 133
- Florida: 5,243
- Georgia: 3,491
- Hawaii: 1,020
- Idaho: 610
- Illinois: 4,407
- Indiana: 8,310
- Iowa: 577
- Kansas: 502
- Louisiana: 2,343
- Maine: 160
- Maryland: 633
- Massachusetts: 245
- Michigan: 3,619
- Minnesota: 229
- Mississippi: 94
- Missouri: 1,734
- Montana: 758
- Nebraska: 93
- Nevada: 1,445
- New Hampshire: 3,667
- New Jersey: 388
- New Mexico: 0
- New York: 2,370
- North Carolina: 2,452
- North Dakota: 0
- Ohio: 13,249
- Oklahoma: 1,451
- Oregon: 396
- Pennsylvania: 2,282
- Rhode Island: 0
- South Carolina: 1,126
- South Dakota: 841
- Tennessee: 14,444
- Texas: 5,471
- Utah: 259
- Vermont: 0
- Virginia: 2,754
- Washington: 4,273
- West Virginia: 1,565
- Wisconsin: 1,427
- Wyoming: 0
Last year’s Census estimates reported Kentucky’s 106,797 new residents with a margin of error of about 7,782 people, according to the data set. The relative margin of error fluctuates between states and territories.
You can browse the latest Census migration figures yourself by visiting census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/geographic-mobility/state-to-state-migration.html.
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