Chatham has been ranked above all other Canadian cities for growth, according to a study by U-Haul that analyzes customer trends.
The moving rental company released its 2022 U-Haul Growth Index this week, which compiles the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks arriving in a city or province, versus trucks departing from that city or province, in a calendar year.
The statistics for last year showed that people arriving in Chatham fell 12 per cent from 2021, while departures from Chatham fell 23.2 per cent. This bumped the city from 13th place in 2021 to the number one spot for 2022.
David Anstett, U-Haul’s president for Western Ontario, said he believes people are moving to the Chatham-Kent because it’s more economical to live.
“There are about 30 small communities in this region that seem to be attracting record residents,” he said in a news release. “People like to be on the water, they like to retire here with a calm, relaxed environment, and they like to get out of the bigger cities and live in cottage country.”
U-Haul’s Growth Index also showed that do-it-yourself movers accounted for 57 per cent of all rental truck traffic travelling into the city in 2022.
Trois Rivieres, Sarnia, Quebec City and Kelowna round out U-Haul’s top five Canadian growth cities of 2022, respectively. Ontario was ranked the third highest province for growth in Canada.