Surprise, Ariz., is the No. 8 top growth city in America, according to the U-Haul Growth Index analyzing customer moves during 2022. 

People arriving in Surprise in one-way U-Haul trucks increased more than 6% over 2021, while departures rose only 5%. Do-it-yourself movers arriving in Surprise accounted for better than 53% of all one-way U-Haul truck traffic in and out of the market (47% departures). 

Surprise is the lone Arizona city on the top 25 list. It also ranked eighth on the U-Haul Growth Index back in 2020, and 18th in 2021 as U-Haul customers continue to make the sprawling Phoenix suburb a significant net-gain area. 

READ ALSO: Here’s why Arizona economy is forecast to outperform U.S.

The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled according to the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks 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 million one-way U-Haul truck transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada. 

Ocala is the top growth city in America based on the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks during the past year, and four Florida destinations are among the top 25 on the annual U-Haul Growth Index. It is the third consecutive year that a Florida city has topped the U-Haul growth rankings. The Kissimmee–St. Cloud corridor earned that honor in 2021. North Port was No. 1 for 2020.

U-Haul transactional data reveals Ocala saw a 6% year-over-year increase in arrivals and only a 1% increase in departures. Do-it-yourself movers arriving in Ocala accounted for more than 53% of all one-way U-Haul truck traffic in and out of the market (47% departures).

The Sacramento–Roseville (Calif.) market and Madison (Wis.) rank second and third on the 2022 growth cities list, respectively. Both have held the No. 1 ranking in recent years.

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 cities and states are attracting and maintaining residents. Visit myuhaulstory.com to view the U-Haul top 50 growth state rankings of 2022 and find individual press releases for the top 10 growth states.

2022 U-Haul Growth Cities

1. OCALA, FL (24)

2. SACRAMENTO-ROSEVILLE, CA (8)

3. MADISON, WI (5)

4. PALM BAY-MELBOURNE, FL (3)

5. AUBURN-OPELIKA, AL (23)

6. NORTH PORT, FL (4)

7. MYRTLE BEACH-NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (17)

8. SURPRISE, AZ (18)

9. HUNTSVILLE, AL

10. CHARLESTON-NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

11. ST. LOUIS, MO

12. ATHENS, GA

13. MISSOURI CITY, TX

14. RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC (2)

15. RICHARDSON, TX (22)

16. FORT COLLINS, CO

17. HENDERSON, NV

18. RENO, NV

19. CONROE, TX

20. WEST CHESTER, OH

21. LAKELAND, FL

22. NASHVILLE, TN

23. NOBLESVILLE, IN

24. HENRICO, VA

25. SANDY SPRINGS, GA