A moving-industry study has identified Connecticut as the fourth-highest state in outbound migration compared with inbound moves.

The annual United Van Lines study released last week listed only New Jersey, New York and Illinois above Connecticut in the rankings of outbound moves. Oregon was the favored state nationally for inbound moves, followed by South Carolina, Vermont, Idaho and North Carolina.

In Connecticut, 63 percent of moves were outbound. By contrast, 69 percent of Oregon's moves are inbound, according to United statistics compiled last year.

"The aging Boomer population is driving relocation from the Northeast and Midwest to the West and South, as more and more people retire to warmer regions," said Michael Stoll, an economist at the University of California at Los Angeles, in a statement.

Southern states recorded a 53 percent rate of inbound moves. Top reasons, according to a United survey, were job transfers, retirement and being closer to family.

The Northeast, on the other hand, dominated outbound moving. Only Vermont's record of 62 percent inbound moves bucked the trend.

“This year’s data reflects longer-term trends of people moving to the Pacific West, where cities such as Portland and Seattle are seeing the combination of a boom in the technology and creative marketing industry, as well as a growing ‘want’ for outdoor activity and green space,” Stoll said.

United has tracked migration patterns annually on a state-by-state basis since 1977.

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow