U-Haul names most moveable city in B.C. and it isn't Vancouver
U-Haul’s list of the top 25 Canadian growth cities in 2025 has been released, and Vancouver has ranked third among B.C. spots.
More people moved to Victoria and Kelowna, according to the 2025 U-Haul index, which measures how many of their customers renting a one-way truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container in one city or province and left it in another.
Victoria is number four on the list, Kelowna is number six, and Vancouver is number seven. Kelowna saw a huge jump from #23 in the last report.
On a provincial level, B.C. ranks second, falling behind Alberta. Manitoba comes in third place.
“People are also continuing to move to British Columbia for the natural beauty and the tempered climate, especially in comparison to the other provinces. B.C. also has strong healthcare and education systems that attract young couples and families,” said Razmin Mansoub, the U-Haul area district vice president for western Canada, in a release.
This is the third year that Alberta has topped U-Haul’s list, due to its strong job market, lower cost of living, high wages, and outdoor recreation, according to Mansoub.
Other B.C. cites that made the top 25 are Richmond (#8), North Vancouver (#12), Salmon Arm (#16), and Sidney (#24).
Calgary, Alta., and Barrie, Ont., were the two most moveable cities.
U-Haul notes that its growth index is “an effective gauge of how well provinces and cities are attracting and maintaining residents,” though it might not correlate with economic or population growth.
According to BCStats, the province’s population fell by over 14,000 people from the second to the third quarter of 2025, experiencing ” its first annual negative population growth on record, driven primarily by lower levels of international migration.”
Just over 1,500 interprovincial migrants moved into the province at that time.
This trend also took place nationally, with over 76,000 people leaving the country, which BCStats says is “the largest population decline on record.”
From September 2024 to September 2025, B.C.’s population declined by 13,651 people, a negative growth rate of 0.2 per cent.