The ‘Texafornia’ trend: Californians are still fleeing to Texas and other shocking states

Jillian Lovato loved living in Orange County, CA, but she hated the area’s high home prices.

“My wife Jamie and I knew we weren’t going to be able to buy the house we wanted in California,” explains Jillian. “We felt like we were going to be stuck renting our whole lives.â€

So in 2021, they decided to move to another state — and while many places were less expensive than California, the couple jumped on Texas because of Jamie’s job as a golf instructor, since “the weather conditions would play a great role in her time working.â€

After traveling across the state, they decided to move to Austin, TX because “it felt more like us.”

The couple has since bought their dream home there, where they and their dogs have access to nearby woods and local streams—perks that wouldn’t have been available in their former California hometown.

“Life has been very different in a positive way,” Lovato says. “While there are many things we miss about California, moving to Austin has allowed us to fulfill our dream of owning a home together.”

The “Texafornia” trend: Why Californians are moving to Texas and other states

These Californians returning from Texas are not alone in their search for an affordable home. Californians sick of their state’s high home prices are shopping around the country for better real estate deals.

Texas is far and away the most popular destination for Californians, with an estimated 102,000 Golden State residents moving to the Lone Star State in 2022, according to Texas Realtors’ 2024 Texas Relocation Report.

And many more are looking to move there. Data from Realtor.com between April and June 2024 found that 8.1% of home buyers browsing Texas listings originated in California. The growing similarities between these two states have also led to the term “Texafornia”.

While Texas may top California’s list of most desired relocation destinations, Realtor.com data also shows that they are considering many listings in Arizona (7.5%), Nevada (7.4%), Florida (6.7%), Oregon (5.8). %), Washington (4.8%), Tennessee (4.7%), Illinois (4.1%), Idaho (3.5%) and Missouri (2.9%).

While the affordability of homes for sale in these states varies, they are all bargains compared to California.

“The search for affordability is one of the main reasons Californians bought in these states,” says Realtor.com Senior Economist Jiayi Xu, who notes that the median listing price in California in July 2024 ($777,900) was nearly double the price in Texas ($380,000).

Ted Wilsoni Residential Strategies, a Dallas-based market research company, says Texas’ lack of state income tax, strong job growth and low cost of living have also contributed to “a very strong increase” in migration coming from California” as well as Chicago and the East Coast.

“In addition to high prices, high insurance costs such as for wildfires may also increase the housing burden and force people to leave California,” Xu adds.

AND Hamilton Lombarda demographer at the University of Virginia, notes that “California is so expensive, almost EVERYWHERE elsewhere in the country is more affordable. … So the spread is massive for those looking to leave the state.â€

How work-from-home policies have helped Californians move

Southern Californian Julie Johnson moved to Las Vegas in 2023.

“I knew my money would go further here,” she says. “At the time, I was working remotely and I knew that some of my old colleagues had moved here over the last few years. [COVID-19] pandemic.â€

Nevada, another favorite destination for migrating Californians, absorbed 369,878 California residents from 2020 to 2023, according to driver’s license surrender data obtained by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Johnson says housing in Vegas is “definitely more affordable” than in Southern California, adding that she lives in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home for less than $1,200 a month — including utilities. While she expected a lower cost of living, she was pleasantly surprised by the many high-paying job opportunities in the city after losing her job.

“I met with better paying jobs,” she reports.

As for the future, Johnson says she’s glad she found the courage to leave California, but she’s not sure if she sees herself staying in Nevada forever. She even hints that she might consider living in the Pacific Northwest.

“Vegas has been good to me, so we’ll see where it goes,” she says.

Why warm weather states remain popular

Florida and California have a lot in common: sun, beaches, even Disney theme parks. So it’s no surprise that many Californians are moving to the Sunshine State, too. The data shows that 37,000 Californians moved to Florida in 2021. In 2022, more than 50,000 Californians followed suit.

Tanya Vanterpoola real estate agent in Miami, says she sees “a significant number” of transplants coming from California as well as other parts of the country.

“People are moving from states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois and even as far as Washington,” she says. “The trend reflects a broader national shift where individuals are seeking better quality of life, more space and affordability, which Florida consistently delivers.”

Vanterpool says many people are drawn to Florida because of the relatively low housing costs, the lack of state income tax and, of course, the year-round pleasant weather.

“Florida’s stunning world-famous beaches, vibrant cities and diverse recreational opportunities offer something for everyone, making it a top choice for families and retirees alike,” she says.

Another warm-weather state on Californians’ wish lists is Tennessee: According to Census data, 22,000 Californians moved to Tennessee between July 2021 and July 2022.

Kayla Guntera broker/owner of CENTURY 21 Platinum Properties in Clarksville, TN, says she expects the trend to continue.

“Tennessee, with its relatively lower cost of living and affordable real estate prices, has emerged as an attractive destination [for Californians],” she says, adding that cities like Clarksville, which appeared in Money’s 50 Best Cities to Live in the U.S., are especially desirable, as they offer “a mix of urban amenities, natural beauty and a level lower”. cost of home ownership.â€

Why “affordability” is a relative term

While Portland, OR, is not known for cheap real estate, it has been another favorite destination for Californians. In 2022, 36,429 Californians moved to Oregon, according to the US Census Bureau.

Kevin Kretzerwho moved from California to Portland in 2023, says it’s still less expensive than his previous home in Southern California.

“I look at dog-friendly apartments in our hometown from time to time and I can’t find a single dog-friendly room for what we pay here in Portland,” he says.

But affordability aside, the real draw to Oregon was the culture: the outdoor lifestyle, the food, and the people. After a year in his new state, Kretzer is excited about his move and hopes to be in Portland for a long time — and has set his sights on buying a home.

“While that would be impossible in Southern California, it’s probably something I could see happening here,” he says.