Americans are moving to Florida and Texas, and leaving California
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- Florida and Texas each welcomed over 600,000 new residents from 2021 to 2022, the most of any state.
- California had the biggest exodus, totaling over 800,000.
- Many state-to-state movers say affordability is a key issue.
Americans move for a multitude of reasons, though it seems affordability remains at the top of their lists.
Florida and Texas welcomed the greatest number of new residents between 2021 and 2022, just shy of 740,000 and 670,000 people, respectively, according to new Census Bureau data. Similar warm-weather southern states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia also topped the list.
Florida continues to draw the most new residents. It was the fastest-growing state between 2020 and 2021 as well, though some complained of trouble in paradise when faced with the state's increased housing costs and infamous heat.
"So many people come for a week or two on vacation, and they think their life is going to be like that every day," Miami real-estate agent Michael Bordenado told Insider in January.
Affordability has been a key draw of Texas, where Californians, specifically, have found they can cash in on their high property values for bigger homes. Many have relocated to Texas, as higher housing costs drive them out of the Golden State, Insider previously reported. "We felt like we were paying a lot of money to live in a city we weren't enjoying," said one relocator.
In terms of who's leaving their home state, the Golden State had more residents leave than any other between 2021 and 2022, as residents chase affordability across the country.
Former Californian Madison Benedetto told Insider in October 2022 her family was able to purchase a home in South Carolina without a mortgage after cashing on in their Palm Springs home. She said her family is now debt-free.
"We've been able to buy a boat, a motor home, and pay off our car loans with the money we made by selling our home in California," Benedetto said.
Take look below for the top eight states that Americans both moved into and out of between 2021 and 2022.