Op-Ed: Are Californians fleeing en masse to Texas? The reality is complicated
Updated at: 04/07/2014 12:21 PM By
In the past, we’ve looked at which states have the highest percentage of residents living in poverty. But, now, our focus is on where people are moving from for the second year in a row. Are they fleeing California entirely? Or have they simply found an alternative to California?
In total, 8,851,863 Californians moved to Texas during the June quarter of 2012, according to Federal Reserve data. Last year, 7,955,879 Californians moved to Texas, and the previous year, 7,917,723 Californians moved to Texas. Since 2000, a total of 17,200,541 Californians have moved to Texas, of which 5,800,941 are from California.
These numbers are likely to be dwarfed by the total number of Californians who have moved to Texas during the past 10 years: 18,084,749.
In the state’s history, it is no surprise that California has become synonymous with the state’s reputation as a progressive, highly-educated and high-income destination. The reality is far more complicated.
Many Californians have found their place in Texas without ever leaving the state (San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County and Ventura County all account for the highest percentage of Californians moving to Texas of all major California counties in each of the last four years).
Also, California had a very low number of Californians moving to Texas over the last 10 years. In the first quarter of 2012, there were 2,061 Californians moving to Texas, which was the fewest of any state in the U.S.
In the past, we’ve looked at which states have the highest percentage of residents living in poverty. But, now, our focus is on where people are moving from for the second year in a row. Are they fleeing California entirely?