More people are loading up U-Hauls and moving to London.
That’s according to a new migration trend data from the do-it-yourself moving and self-storage company, which says London ranks number five on a list of 2017’s top 10 Canadian destinations for one-way U-Haul trips. London ranked number six in 2016.
According to U-Haul, the number of one-way truck arrivals in London rose 10 per cent from between 2017 and 2018.
“Ottawa, and Toronto, and Windsor, there’s a lot of cities that are growing, but London is one of the top,” said David Anstett, president of U-Haul Company of Western Ontario. “Kitchener-Waterloo as well, a lot of people are moving there. There’s a lot of growth all over Ontario, but London is one of the high ones, for sure.”
“You’ve got a great university and you’ve got Fanshawe College. People are moving for that reason, and it’s a lovely place to live.”
Although students make up a large portion of the 10 per cent increase, Anstett says another group, retirees, particularly from Toronto, have helped boost London to its top-five spot.
“We’re seeing a lot of people from Toronto that are kind of retiring and housing prices are a little more reasonable in London. … Families moving to London, and older folks, retirees, moving to London for that reason,” Anstett said.
In addition, Anstett says they’ve seen growth in the number of people moving within the city, about 10 to 15 per cent, and an increase in the number of people moving to London permanently.
The moving company releases migration data every year in the lead-up to July 1, dubbed “Moving Day,” as it’s one of U-Haul’s busiest days for residential moves.
London came ahead of Montreal, Hamilton, Victoria, Kitchener, and Vancouver in the top 10 list, while Ottawa placed fourth. The top three cities will be unveiled over the next week.
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