More people move from California to Texas than any other state, report says

More than 102,000 California residents moved to the Lone Star State in 2022, more than any other state in the nation, according to a new report. But at the same time, new statistics show that a growing number of Texans are moving out West.

The exodus from other states to Texas has yet to cease, as Texas's population continues to soar. According to the Texas Realtors 2024 Texas Relocation Report, more than half a million people (668,000) moved to the state in 2022, the last year the organization has data. The state saw a net population gain of nearly 175,000, with residents from the Golden State viewing Texas as the top destination, followed by Florida (41,000) and New York (30,000).

The report is based on data obtained from the American Community Survey estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau that analyzes state-to-state relocation data.

The states that contributed to the highest net gain in Texas residents, or when you subtract the number of Texans that left the state versus the new residents, are California with a net gain of 60,000, New York with 18,000, and Oregon with 9,000 residents. Texas saw 42,000 residents leave for California, 3,000 move to Oregon, and 12,000 to New York in the same year, according to the data. States where the most Texans moved to were California, Oklahoma, and Florida.

But growth for the Lone Star State wasn't just from the usual suspects. Texas also saw growth from states such as Colorado, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Louisiana, each tied at 25,000. 

Those choosing to move to Texas from the Golden State cited affordability as the biggest factor, but it's come at a cost of dealing with the region's hot climate, sitting in traffic for longer than expected, and a lack of reliable public transportation. But the arrival of California transplants to Texas hasn't been all roses to Texas natives, who have felt that the new residents have contributed to the higher cost of living. Median rent in Texas is currently hovering at $1,489, a nearly 2 percent increase from last year, according to Rent.com.