Residents of California are starting to realize that the only way to escape the mess created by a decade of Democratic leadership is to leave the state.
Far more people have been exiting California than moving in for years now, but the trend seems to have picked up following the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict lockdowns imposed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D) – not to mention the skyrocketing increase in crime and homelessness, the raging wildfires, the power outages, the water shortages, and the record-breaking jump in housing prices.
In August, the average price for a single-family home in the state of California reached a whopping $827,940 – that’s an increase of more than 17% compared to 2020.
According to a migration report published by North American Moving Services, Californians who decide to leave the state are most likely moving to GOP-led states like Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida as well as Colorado and North Carolina.
The greatest loss so far occurred in Los Angeles County, which saw more than 74,000 residents move out during the fiscal year ending in July 2021. Of those who decided to remain in California, most moved to the “Inland Empire,” a region between LA County and the borders of Arizona and Nevada that has seen its population grow by 78% over the past 30 years.
The population shift has altered California’s demographics as middle class residents seek open spaces and leave the big cities to those rich enough to afford it or too poor to leave.
“California is changing becuase of a desire of many millions to have something that looks like the conventional, traditional California dream: a house on a lot in a neighborhood of similar houses on lots,” says DJ Waldie, a cultural historian.
A similar trend is taking place in Illinois, New York, and other northeastern states as people seek less-densely populated areas over the pandemic-inspired fear of living too close to other people.
“Northeastern states make up four out of the seven states with the most outbound moves, and none of them make the top eight for inbound moves,” notes the report. “New York led the way, followed by New Jersey and Maryland. But California edged out Maryland for fourth place on the outbound list.”
Other factors are play here include job availability, cost of living, weather, and the ability to work remotely.
“States in the south consistently rank well in the list of inbound moves. On average, states throughout the southeast, south, and southwest continue to see their populations grow as more individuals relocate there than leave the region. Arizona and South Carolina have been in the top five inbound states since 2015.”
Southern states like Florida are also experiencing an explosion in job growth as companies relocate to warmer climes and friendlier governments.
Sources:
California exodus intensifies as retirees, teachers, musicians seek cheaper, less-crowded pastures
Californians Flee the Coast to Inland Cities in a Mass Pandemic-Era Exodus