Both Belleville and Trenton are in the top-five of U-Haul’s annual growth index.
Belleville came in at number three and Trenton number four on the 2024 Index which analyzes one-way customer transactions during the past year.
Belleville moved up from 20 and Trenton climbed from 14 in 2023.
U-Haul ranks growth cities by each city’s net gain or loss of one-way equipment from customer transactions in a calendar year.
Customers coming to Belleville accounted for 57% of all one-way traffic in and out of the market (43% departures) in 2024.
Analyzing year-over-year changes, U-Haul arrivals to Belleville rose 24% while departures remained the same.
“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.”
U-Haul customers coming to Trenton accounted for 58% of all one-way traffic in and out of the market (42% departures) in 2024.
Arrivals to Trenton rose 22% while departures rose 4%.
“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 says while migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, its growth index is an effective gauge of how well cities and provinces are attracting and maintaining residents.
Pembroke rounded out the top five.
Alberta is the top U-Haul growth province for the second year in a row, followed by B.C.
Ontario ranks last with the largest net loss of one-way U-Haul movers.
