Photo courtesy of United Van Lines

Moving giant United Van Lines’ annual National Migration Study has shed some light on why New Hampshire gained population in each of the past four years.

New Hampshire’s gain from 2019 to 2020 was small – about 5,500 people – compared with growth in the South and West, but made it one of the few New England states that managed to grow, according to the Census Bureau’s latest estimates.

United Van Lines’ study, its 44th, found that the largest share of people it helped move into New Hampshire from out of state were drawn primarily for family reasons – 36.54 percent – while 28.85 percent cited jobs, 23.08 percent cited lifestyle considerations, 19.23 percent cited lifestyle considerations and 13.46 percent cited health concerns.

Among those who United Van Lines helped move out of state, 40.43 percent cited a job as their primary reason for moving, 25.53 percent cited family reasons, 21.28 percent cited retirement, 10.64 percent cited health and a mere 8.51 percent cited lifestyle concerns.

The study was based on surveys of 600 movers, 311 inbound and 289 outbound.