Both Belleville and Trenton were in the top five of a survey by U-Haul showing the places where people are relocating/moving.
Belleville is the No. 3 Canadian growth city of 2024, according to U-Haul’s Growth Index data analyzing for one-way customer transactions during the past year.
Trenton was number 4 on the same list.
Analyzing year-over-year changes, U-Haul arrivals into Belleville rose 24% while departures remained the same. Belleville climbed 17 spots in the top 25 growth rankings.
“People continue to move to Belleville because it gives their residents a better value for life with cheaper home prices and more job opportunities,” stated Antony Grocott, U-Haul Company of Eastern Ontario president. “People move here for a better lifestyle with more money in their pockets.”
Analyzing year-over-year changes, U-Haul arrivals into Trenton rose 22% while departures rose 4%. Trenton climbed 10 spots from its growth ranking in 2023.
“Trenton is home to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, which is one of the country’s largest Royal Canadian Air Force Bases and the largest employer in the area,” said Antony Grocott, U-Haul Company of Eastern Ontario president. “The military holds a high presence in the area and brings in a lot of residents.”
U-Haul ranks growth cities by each city’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions in a calendar year. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box® portable moving container transactions that occur annually across Canada and the U.S.
Alberta is the top U-Haul growth province for the second year in a row, followed by BC. Ontario ranks last with the largest net loss of one-way U-Haul movers.
While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is often considered an effective gauge of how well cities and provinces are attracting and maintaining residents.
2024 Top 25 Canadian Growth Cities
1. CALGARY, AB (1)
2. EDMONTON, AB (3)
3. BELLEVILLE, ON (20)
4. TRENTON, ON (14)
5. PEMBROKE, ON
6. BRANTFORD, ON (10)
7. MEDICINE HAT-REDCLIFF, AB
8. COLLINGWOOD, ON (11)
9. PARRY SOUND, ON
10. CHATHAM-KENT, ON (7)
11. INNISFIL, ON
12. SAINT THOMAS, ON
13. BARRIE, ON
14. WOODSTOCK, ON
15. LINDSAY, ON
16. CHILLIWACK, BC (23)
17. OWEN SOUND-MEAFORD, ON
18. PETERBOROUGH, ON
19. SYDNEY, NS
20. SIDNEY, BC
21. SARNIA, ON (21)
22. TRAIL, BC
23. KELOWNA, BC (4)
24. ORILLIA, ON (12)
25. NANAIMO, BC (17)
NOTE – 2023 growth rankings in the previous survey are noted in parentheses
2024 Canadian Growth Provinces
1. ALBERTA (1)
2. BRITISH COLUMBIA (2)
3. NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR (7)
4. NEW BRUNSWICK (3)
5. SASKATCHEWAN (4)
6. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (6)
7. QUEBEC (5)
8. MANITOBA (8)
9. NOVA SCOTIA (9)
10. ONTARIO (10)
NOTE – 2023 growth rankings in the previous survey are noted in parentheses
