Des Moines' net migration outpaces New York, Los Angeles, analysis shows

Kevin Hardy | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption U.S. News: Iowa is No. 1 in Best States rankings for 2018 U.S. News & World Report ranked Iowa No. 1 in the country in its Best States rankings released Tuesday.

Des Moines is among the nation's top 50 cities with the largest net increase in population as a result of migration, according to a new analysis from 24/7 Wall Street.

To find the 50 metropolitan areas with the largest net increase in population as a result of migration between 2010 and 2017, 24/7 Wall Street reviewed population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program.

More: Population migration patterns: US cities Americans are flocking to

That analysis put the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area at number 42 in the nation. The review found that the Des Moines metro:

added 43,634 people from in-migration between 2010 and 2017

had a 13.4 percent population increase from 2010 to 2017

experienced natural growth between 2010-2017 with 63,958 births and 31,563 deaths

Each year, roughly 40 million Americans, or about 14 percent of the U.S. population, move at least once. Much of the movement is traced to younger people relocating within cities. But recent migration patterns have been largely defined by people flocking to warmer climates, more affordable areas or better job opportunities, the study found.

The 50 cities where the most people are moving to can primarily be found in the Sun Belt, particularly in states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Among the fastest growing cities are places like Dallas, Miami and Phoenix.

More: Des Moines was just named the nation's unhappiest city for workers

More: Des Moines among top places to live in America, U.S. News says

For most U.S. cities, in-migration accounts for the majority of growth, the review found. Two notable exceptions were New York and Los Angeles, where thousands more people moved out than moved in.

Still, those cities boasted some of the highest net increases in population due to natural population growth.

Demography experts have long pointed out that Iowa's metropolitan areas, particularly the Des Moines area, are drawing people in from Iowa's smaller cities and rural areas, which are increasingly losing population.

Between 2010 and 2017, 71 Iowa counties lost residents, while 28 saw gains. Nearly 700 Iowa communities lost residents over that time.

More: This map shows the stark reality of rural Iowa's population loss

Here's a look at the top five cities with the highest population gains from in-migration between 2010 and 2017: