In an alarming trend between 2020 and 2022, California witnessed a dramatic population decline, with a staggering 700,000 residents fleeing the state. This mass exodus, primarily to Texas, marks the largest state-to-state migration in U.S. history, as reported by U.S. Census data. Over the past decade, the Golden State saw 8.5 million people relocate elsewhere, while only 6.3 million ventured in, driven away by sky-high living costs, a housing and homelessness crisis, and growing fears of crime.
- Population Decline Prior to 2023:
- Between 2020 and 2022, California faced population decline. During this period, Californians moving to Texas constituted the largest state-to-state movement in the U.S. according to U.S. Census data.
- Other estimates indicate that California lost nearly 700,000 residents since 2020.
- Overall Trends:
- From 2010 through 2022, approximately 8.5 million people moved from California to other states, while 6.3 million people moved to California from other parts of the country.
- Factors contributing to population shifts include the state’s high cost of living, housing and homelessness crisis, and concerns about crime.
California loses the most population under Newsom: pic.twitter.com/blJ5pDvD9A
— Cheryl Kane (@cherylkanere) June 20, 2024