Image Credit: SUBMITTED: U-Haul

Kelowna saw far fewer newcomers last year than it did in 2023, according to numbers released a major Canadian moving company.

U-Haul would know better than most where people are moving to and compiles that into a yearly list of the most popular Canadian moving destinations.

In 2023, Kelowna was fourth most popular on the list but last year, it landed in 23rd place.

Calgary was the most moved-to city in 2024, a status it also had in 2023.

Alberta came top of the list for the most moved-to province for the second year in a row, while British Columbia came in second as it did in 2023.

U-Haul uses data from customers who rented a U-Haul for a one-way journey.

Kelowna was the only city in the Okanagan to make the list.

READ MORE: Kelowna's unemployment rate spiked at the end of 2024

In B.C., Chilliwack took 16th place, up from the 23rd spot in 2023, while Trail came in 22nd position and Nanaimo in 25th.

Edmonton was the second most moved-to city on the list, followed by Belleville, Ontario.

"People are moving to Alberta because of the opportunities and investments being made in the province. The cost of living is not as bad as compared to some other provinces. You have the Canadian Rockies and lots of recreational activities," U-Haul vice president said in a media release. "I also think people are still moving to British Columbia because it is beautiful and offers a slower, laid-back lifestyle."

While Alberta topped the chart for the most people moving to the province, almost half of U-Hauls rented within Alberta were for people to leave.

READ MORE: Reprieve in the housing crisis with Kelowna rent prices going down

Ontario came in tenth place as a province where people were moving to, however, 16 of the cities in the top 25 list were in Ontario.

"Ontario will always be the economic heart of Canada and has so much to offer its residents," U-Haul Area District vice president Jake Spelic said in the release. "What is interesting on our growth cities list is that all the top destinations in Ontario are smaller cities, and most are considered four-season recreational areas. The trend seems to be people are looking for more affordable housing in popular recreational areas with less hustle and bustle than the larger cities."

U-Haul says that while migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, its numbers are an effective gauge of how well cities and provinces attract and maintain residents.

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