UPSTATE, S.C. (WSPA) — A study by U-Haul has found that South Carolina, for the first time ever, is growing faster than any state across the country.

U-Haul says that, due to increases in one-way traffic and population retention, South Carolina posted the country’s largest net gain of U-Haul movers.

Jason Hardin, the Area District Vice President for U-Haul, says it’s obvious why the Palmetto State has become so popular.

“I mean we have southern charm,” Hardin said. “We have a lot of history here, we got beaches, we have mountains, we have low cost of living. South Carolina is 7% lower on cost of living than anywhere else in the United States”

As far as cities in South Carolina, at the top of the list for the state, as well as top 10 nationally, is Greenville. According to the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the county saw approximately 28 new residents every day last year, and that more than 60% of people moving to Greenville County are from outside the state. The chamber says they expect to see a quarter of a million new residents in Greenville County alone in the next 20 years.

However, with more people comes the need for more places to live. And as demand rises, so do prices. In 2024, Greenville County saw a 0.6% increase in the median sales price of homes and a nearly 19% increase in the average rental price.

But this area isn’t only desirable for its charm. A large reason leaders say people want to live here is the opportunity to find a good career.

“They are moving there because of jobs,” Hardin said. “We have a lot of tech coming in, manufacturing such as Boeing, Volvo, BMW.”

According to the Upstate SC Alliance, the top two manufacturing companies in our area, BMW and Michelin, employ more than 10,000 people combined.

One Spartanburg Incorporated said that in 2024 alone, Spartanburg County landed 23 economic development projects – resulting in a total investment of $745 million and creating more than 1,000 jobs.

The 2024 year end review for Anderson County shows a nearly $100 million investment with more than 500 total jobs created.

U-Haul noted other areas for potential growth in the state include Aiken, Charleston, Myrtle Beach & Simpsonville.