Best/Worst
People Leaving California by State 2026
Est. Ex-Californians Moving to State
State | Est. Ex-Californians Moving to State 2023↓ | % of Total Ex-Californians Who've Moved This Year 2023 | Additional Leaving California Details 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Texas | 93,970 | 13.62% | #1 destination. 82,235 people moved from California to Texas in 2020 |
 | Arizona | 54,222 | 7.86% | #2 destination. 59,713 people moved from California to Arizona in 2020 |
 | Nevada | 41,997 | 6.09% | #3 destination. 47,322 people moved from California to Nevada in 2020 |
 | Washington | 40,858 | 5.92% | #4 destination. 46,791 people moved from California to Washington in 2020 |
 | Florida | 39,052 | 5.66% | |
 | Oregon | 33,807 | 4.9% | #5 destination. 37,927 people moved from California to Oregon in 2020 |
 | New York | 31,097 | 4.51% | |
 | Colorado | 26,148 | 3.79% | |
 | Tennessee | 23,961 | 3.47% | |
 | Virginia | 21,771 | 3.15% | |
 | North Carolina | 21,084 | 3.06% | |
 | Georgia | 20,191 | 2.93% | |
 | Idaho | 17,338 | 2.51% | |
 | Illinois | 16,460 | 2.39% | |
 | Utah | 15,848 | 2.3% | |
 | Ohio | 12,197 | 1.77% | |
 | Massachusetts | 12,160 | 1.76% | |
 | Pennsylvania | 11,590 | 1.68% | |
 | Hawaii | 11,200 | 1.62% | |
 | Oklahoma | 10,940 | 1.59% | |
 | Maryland | 10,051 | 1.46% | |
 | Michigan | 9,765 | 1.41% | |
 | New Jersey | 9,431 | 1.37% | |
 | Missouri | 8,146 | 1.18% | |
 | New Mexico | 8,126 | 1.18% | |
 | Indiana | 7,740 | 1.12% | |
 | South Carolina | 7,108 | 1.03% | |
 | Wisconsin | 6,339 | 0.92% | |
 | Arkansas | 6,320 | 0.92% | |
 | Kentucky | 5,838 | 0.85% | |
 | Montana | 5,577 | 0.81% | |
 | Connecticut | 4,972 | 0.72% | |
 | Alabama | 4,921 | 0.71% | |
 | Alaska | 4,697 | 0.68% | |
 | Minnesota | 4,505 | 0.65% | |
 | Iowa | 4,406 | 0.64% | |
 | South Dakota | 3,368 | 0.49% | |
 | Kansas | 3,160 | 0.46% | |
 | District of Columbia | 2,976 | 0.43% | |
 | Mississippi | 2,921 | 0.42% | |
 | Louisiana | 2,424 | 0.35% | |
 | Rhode Island | 2,008 | 0.29% | |
 | Nebraska | 1,904 | 0.28% | |
 | New Hampshire | 1,718 | 0.25% | |
 | Maine | 1,553 | 0.23% | |
 | Wyoming | 1,181 | 0.17% | |
 | North Dakota | 1,158 | 0.17% | |
 | Vermont | 855 | 0.12% | |
 | West Virginia | 552 | 0.08% | |
 | Delaware | 516 | 0.07% |
- The US Census Bureau has declined to release data on state-to-state migration for the year 2020, likely due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Common reasons people move from California to another state include the following:
- Rise in remote work opportunities enables more workers to live wherever they like, not just where the job is located
- Seeking more abundant and/or affordable housing
- Moving to a state with lower taxes or lower overall cost of living
- Job opportunities elsewhere
- Moving to be nearer to family (especially if raising children)
- Moving to a state whose politics they prefer (more common in conservative individuals)
- ”% of Total Ex-Californians Who’ve Moved This Year” is the percentage, out of the total number of people who left California for any other state during the given year, who specifically moved to a given state.
Over the past several years, a growing number of people have been leaving California to live in other states. While this trend picked up speed in the early 2020s, it has been building for much longer, driven largely by high housing costs, everyday expenses, and shifting living priorities.
In 2023—the most recent year of interstate migration data available as of early 2026—Californians moved to every other U.S. state, but most didn’t spread out evenly. Instead, a handful of states attracted a large share of former residents. The table above shows where people leaving California moved by state.
Interstate Out-Migration (California) The movement of California residents to other U.S. states, measured by net and gross population flows between states over a given year.
States Californians Are Moving to After Leaving California
In 2023, most people leaving California moved to a relatively small group of states. Texas was the top destination, receiving 93,970 former California residents—about 13.6% of all interstate moves from the state that year.
Arizona, Nevada, and Washington followed, each drawing more than 40,000 former Californians. Florida and Oregon also ranked among the top destinations, reflecting a mix of lower housing costs, job opportunities, and lifestyle appeal compared to California. Altogether, the five most popular destination states accounted for just under 40% of all Californians who moved out of state in 2023.
Reasons People Are Leaving California
For many people, the decision to leave California comes down to affordability. Housing costs, taxes, and everyday expenses are higher than in much of the country, making it harder for middle- and lower-income households to get ahead or stay long-term. Other factors have also played a role, including the ability to work remotely, a desire for more space, and lifestyle changes that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
