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    INFOGRAPHIC: Are people leaving California? Here’s what the numbers show us
    • April 4, 2026

    Few things fuel the grand debate about California’s economy more than population flows in and out of the Golden State. The annual interstate migration statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau give us a picture of who is moving where. Let’s focus on what demographers call “net migration “– the number of people arriving compared with the number of people departing a state. Let’s ponder recently released 2024 statistics.

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    WHY? FOLLOW THE MONEY

    California’s net outflow is nothing new. In 2024, California had a net out-migration of 254,400, the largest in the nation. That’s 661,200 residents leaving for other states, No. 1 for exits among the states. Meanwhile, 406,900 people arrived, No. 3 among the states. Hints to motivations can be found by looking at California’s net out-migration stats by state and comparing those relocations with rankings of states for various attributes.

    This math shows financial issues are more important than livability. Consider where the outflow went:

    58% to the business-friendliest states, as ranked by CNBC.52% to states scored as great places for retirement, as ranked by Motley Fool.52% to states known for low taxes, as ranked by the Tax Foundation.30% to states with the best quality of life, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.31% to the most family-friendly states, as ranked by WalletHub.

    Additionally, note that net outmigration does not mean there’s an exodus of Californians. As a share of the population, 2024 departures accounted for 1.7% of Californians. That’s the fourth-lowest exit rate among states. California’s population challenge is attracting fellow Americans – only 1% of the state’s population were new residents from elsewhere in the nation, the worst attraction rate amongst the states.

    Sources: National Association of Realtors and U.S. Census, Q3 2023 and Jonathan Lansner

     Orange County Register 

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