The Volunteer State's population is growing, according to a study from a moving company.
United Van Lines released their 44th Annual National Migration Study in January, which found that many Americans are moving westbound and southbound. The COVID-19 pandemic was also a significant reason many people decided to move states, officials said.
Realtor Alisa Pruett has noticed that happening in Knoxville.
"It has been just unbelievable the number of people that are moving to Knoxville," she told 10News. "I was out with some buyers from Charlotte this weekend... The weekend before that, a couple from Modesto, California."
She said finding the perfect home can be challenging right now.
"It's tough because there's just not much inventory... you're going to most likely pay asking price or because you're to end up in a multiple offer situation," she said. "We're hoping maybe there'll be some more inventory loosen up this spring."
Tennessee made the top 10 list of states with the most people moving to them. Officials said that Tennessee had a 60% inbound rate, compared with just a 40% outbound rate. At the top of the list was Idaho with a 70.1 % inbound rate.
Amanda Rager moved back to Tennessee last summer.
"After retirement from the military, we did some research on different states," Rager said. "We were living in Nebraska and they actually tax military pay 50 percent. Tennessee doesn't, so we decided to move here."
Plus, she's originally from Anderson County and loves all that Tennessee has to offer.
"There's mountains and lakes and lots of outdoor recreational things we like to take part in," Rager said. "The state itself is beautiful."
Around a third of people who moved to Tennessee did so for work, according to the researchers who worked on the study. However, more than half of the people who left the state also left because of their job, according to the study.
They said that 29% of people moved to the state to be closer to family, and around 26% of people came to Tennessee for their retirement, officials said. Many people also said that they came to Tennessee because they enjoyed the lifestyle, at around 17%.
"We've got an amazing entertainment industry that still mirrors where they live, yet the people are very kind and warm and welcoming," said Brian Copeland, the President of Greater Nashville Realtors. "The economy is great."
Around a quarter of the people who left Tennessee were between 55 - 64 years old, officials said. They were replaced by people around the same age — around 31% of people who moved to Tennessee were between 55 - 64.
Sharon and Brian Hallada moved from Florida about five years ago after visiting the state.
"We took a trip up here to just look at the scenery and get a feel of the place and we just fell in love with it," Sharon Hallada said. "It's just really neat up here and you can't beat southern hospitality."
Overall, most people who left the state were young. Only around 8% of people who moved to Tennessee were younger than 34 years old. However, 15% of people who left the state were younger than 34 years old.
According to the study, around 28% of the people moving into Tennessee were older than 65.
While Tennessee's population grew, many people with high incomes also left. Officials said that 42% of people who left the state made more than $150,000 per year. Around 34% of people who moved to Tennessee made more than that amount.
Of the people who cited COVID-19 as an influence on their move in 2020, most people left because of concerns for their personal and family health, at around 60%. Many others also said that they wanted to be closer to family.
Real estate agents said that demand in Nashville is high and that inventory for homes in the area is low.