Raleigh is not just growing — it’s competing nationally for new residents, according to real relocation data.
We track migration data closely because population in-migration is a direct demand signal for housing and local retail. For a broader explanation of why this matters for real estate investing, see Why Population In-Migration Matters for Real Estate Investing in North Carolina.
National Scale In-Migration
- The U-Haul Growth Index ranks the Raleigh metro #8 in the U.S. for net inbound households in 2025.
- This ranking is based on actual moves, not forecasts.
Migration Drivers
Employment is the central pull. Raleigh’s tech, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing job markets are expanding, and households are relocating for stable, long-term work.
Who’s Moving
Working-age adults — especially Gen X and millennials — make up the bulk of inbound movers, many relocating from neighboring states. This cohort often rents first and values proximity to jobs and daily services.
Real Estate Implications
- Workforce housing: sustained demand from job-related relocations supports occupancy stability.
- Neighborhood retail: a growing population with daily spending needs increases baseline consumption at grocery-anchored and service retail nodes.
Short Take
Raleigh’s migration is not incidental — it’s a structural inlet of households driven by employment, not trend narratives. That foundation directly supports fundamentals for the asset types we prioritize.
Win Coleman, CCIM, is a graduate of East Carolina University where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance. He holds both North Carolina and South Carolina Real Estate Licenses and was awarded the prestigious CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in 2008.
Win served on the board of directors of The Triangle Apartment Association (TAA) where he co-chaired The Independent Rental Owner’s Council (IROC). He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Triangle Commercial Association of Realtors (TCAR) and the Raleigh Kiwanis Club.
While a specialist in site identification, evaluation and acquisition for investors and businesses, he also has extensive experience in brokerage, leasing, property management and investment sales.
Win assists in managing The Coleman Group, LLC, which owns a portfolio of investment properties, and he is a member of our acquisitions committee. He has lifelong experience and love for historic properties including the one he restored and where he resides in Historic Oakwood in Downtown Raleigh.