A new study says Mississippi is one of the most sought-after states in America.
U.S. News & World Report placed Mississippi at No. 10 on its list with the most people considering calling it home. The publication tracked migration interest, or curiosity about living in certain states, through internet searches made during the first quarter of 2025.
Common themes throughout the top of the list are states that have coastlines, mountains, or are in the South where the cost of living can often be lower and the weather is warmer. The top 10, in order, were: South Carolina, Tennessee, Delaware, North Carolina, Maine, Idaho, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
“While Alabama and Mississippi both have small coastal areas to the south, most of each state is landlocked, as are Arkansas and Tennessee, yet all four make the list of top 10 states with the highest migration interest,” the study noted. “Some reasons these states may be rising in popularity include the milder weather living in the South affords, along with recreation opportunities and a lower cost of living.”
U.S. News & World Report pointed to Mississippi directly for its diverse music scene and the state frequently ranking as the cheapest to live in.
“The birthplace of the blues, Mississippi has a robust music scene and is also an affordable state for families to live in,” the study continued.
Gov. Tate Reeves, during an interview on Wednesday morning, said the study is spot on as Mississippi is seeing incremental population growth and a record number of companies looking to open shop in the Magnolia State.
“Our people sell themselves. Our state sells itself,” he said. “Our biggest challenging is convincing someone to come to Mississippi once, whether it’s tourism or economic development. If we can convince them to come to Mississippi one time, they almost always like what they see. My view is Mississippi is the best kept secret in the world.”
As for the states people are least interested in making a move to, those with little migration interest per the study are New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Nebraska, North Dakota, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
