California Sees Record Low Out-of-State Movers for Fifth Straight Year

California’s out-of-state migration hits a new low as residents seek affordable living elsewhere

California Sees Record Low Out-of-State Movers for Fifth Straight Year
California Sees Record Low Out-of-State Movers for Fifth Straight Year

California: If you’ve noticed fewer moving trucks with out-of-state plates lately, you’re not alone. U-Haul just reported that fewer people are moving into California for the fifth year in a row.

With the cost of living in California being about 38% higher than the national average, many folks are choosing to relocate to states like Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee instead. South Carolina is actually seeing the most newcomers, according to U-Haul.

John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul’s president, mentioned that people are really weighing their options when it comes to cost of living, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. It seems like a lot of families are heading to the Southeast and Southwest.

Even though California still has the largest migration loss in the country, the number of people leaving has slowed down. Between 2023 and 2024, around 239,575 people left, which is a drop from the pandemic years when the state lost over 412,000 residents.

Many people are moving out to find more affordable housing or to buy homes, especially with remote work giving them more flexibility. The state has also seen fewer births and higher death rates, which adds to the population decline.

Despite all this, California remains the most populous state, with over 39 million residents as of July 2024. The population did grow by about 232,570 people in the past year, and projections suggest it could reach nearly 40 million by 2040.

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