At the end of last year, the state demographer noted that Colorado's growth has slowed dramatically. And according to the national U-Haul Growth Index, Colorado had the worst year-over-year drop in the country in 2024. It now ranks fortieth in the country for share of the moving company's one-way customers who traveled into the state instead of out of it, with 50.3 percent of customers leaving and 49.7 percent coming in, according to U-Haul.
This is only the second time in the last decade that Colorado has had more departures than arrivals, the annual report notes. The fortieth-place ranking is a massive fall from grace compared to 2023, when Colorado ranked ninth in the nation. In almost 1,000 comments on the Westword Facebook post, readers unpack plenty of thoughts about the stats. Says Daniel:
As a transplant that just moved here I’m okay with that! I’m tired of people moving here!Responds Tam:
People have been moving into the Wild West and particularly Denver for hundreds of years. This is nothing new, people. Get over yourself. If you think you are deserving of a special time in the past for a place to stay the same, you are delusional. Read a history book: Places change and grow or die and even rebuild all the time.Recalls Daniel:
We moved there in 1996, and the first thing I noticed were all the bumperstickers on the local cars that read “From California? Go back and take a Texan with you.” We were from neither of these two states, but a Denver hospital had come down to the state we were living in and was recruiting medical professionals to relocate to Denver with great job offers and moving costs paid. We stayed long enough in Denver to get our daughter out of high school (she enlisted in the Air Force) and we left Denver. Great place to vacation and visit, not so much to live there. So evidently they still have the same attitude about newbies coming as we experienced over almost thirty years ago.Offers Ginny:
I love Colorado; spent thirty years there! Would love to go back, but it's unaffordable and too liberal!!Replies Paula:
Being liberal is one of the things I most love about Colorado.Adds Cherie:
Exactly. Diversity, inclusion and compassion for others.Offers John:
Purely anecdoctal, but we moved from Denver late 2023 and finding U-Haul trailers was very difficult. Had to go two different locations across town to get two basic 5x8 trailers. On the other hand, when we got to our destination, we couldn't drop the trailers off anywhere. Every U-Haul lot was packed with them and had no room for any more. Sounds like it hasn't changed much since then.Says Graeme:
Statistics are fun aren’t they? Because yes, more people going the self-move option aren’t coming here. I’ll bet moving companies didn’t see the same dip. Colorado is full, if you’re not making $150k+ a year.Adds Nancy:
50.3 percent to 49.7 precent doesn’t really constitute “nobody” coming here. Although it could be that after spending a couple years on Colorado rent, those leaving the state can no longer afford to rent a U-Haul.Concludes Joe:
If you need to move with U-Haul, you can't afford to come to Colorado. Glad I got in early. I love it here and never plan to leave.What do you think about the stats from U-Haul? The slowing rate of growth in Colorado? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].
