10 American cities still attracting new residents — and bucking a broader trend

Migration cooled across the U.S. in 2025, but some cities kept gaining residents. Bank of America data reveals which metros still pulled ahead

Domestic migration in the U.S. cooled in 2025. Fewer people moved, and those who did largely stayed close to home. Affordability and familiarity now drive decisions, producing regional reshuffling rather than sweeping coastal exits or explosive boomtown growth.

Migration may be cooling, but not everywhere. A small set of cities is still coming out ahead, pulling in more residents than they lose while the national numbers go flat. Bank of America $BAC’s data shows these metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) as rare bright spots, posting net inflows over the last year.

Here are 10 cities that continue to attract residents even as the overall volume of moves softens.

2 / 12

Austin draws new residents from other metros

MJ Tangonan / Unsplash

Austin continues to register a strong net population inflow in 2025 compared with other large MSAs, with Bank of America $BAC data showing significant inbound flows even as moving activity cools nationally.

3 / 12

Denver remains a destination for Sunbelt and West movers

Nils Huenerfuerst / Unsplash

Denver stands out for maintaining meaningful net gains from people moving in from cities across the Sunbelt and West, underscoring its appeal despite broader migration declines.

4 / 12

San Antonio sees ongoing positive migration trends

Matthew Lejune / Unsplash

San Antonio appears among the Sunbelt cities still gaining residents in the 2025 period, according to the data, sharing a pattern of survivable growth even as moves slow elsewhere.

5 / 12

Las Vegas continues to register inflows

David Lusvardi / Unsplash

According to the report, Las Vegas’s net moves remained positive in 2025, reflecting continued pull for movers from within the West and South even amid broader migration cooling.

6 / 12

Columbus keeps steady net gains

Connor Gan / Unsplash

Columbus shows positive net migration in Bank of America $BAC’s data, joining its Midwest peers in attracting residents.

7 / 12

Cleveland rounds out Midwest inflow players

Leo Visions / Unsplash

Cleveland maintains net inbound migration as part of the Midwest group of cities gaining residents in the 2025 period, according to the report.

8 / 12

Indianapolis tops Midwest city inflows

Bryan Dickerson / Unsplash

Indianapolis is one of the fastest rising Midwest destinations in net population change, with inbound moves outpacing departures in 2025, according to the data.

9 / 12

Phoenix records continued positive movement

Nils Huenerfuerst / Unsplash

The data shows Phoenix appearing in the list of South and West cities with modest net gains as the overall flows cool, suggesting persistent but slower inbound trends.

10 / 12

Nashville continues to see inbound moves

Brandon Jean / Unsplash

Nashville remains among cities with positive net migration in 2025, according to the data, holding onto inbound trends even as moves slow across much of the U.S.

11 / 12

Philadelphia attracts affordability-seeking migrants

ActionVance / Unsplash

Philadelphia shows one of the largest inflows among major cities tracked by Bank of America $BAC, drawing newcomers especially from New York and nearby metropolitan areas.

12 / 12