Californians are leaving for these states

Jjay69 // Shutterstock California welcomed 254,935 new residents from across the nation between 2021 and 2022. But, 399,138 Californians also moved out to other states during that same time. In total, the Golden State lost 143,554 households. Many people leaving California could have been incentivized by lower costs of living, lower taxes, less competitive housing markets and business opportunities elsewhere.  With this in mind, SmartAsset analyzed the latest IRS data to explore where Californians are headed, as well as from which states new transplants are entering. Key Findings Texas is the most popular destination for Californian transplants. California lost the most residents to Texas with 54,136 households leaving for the Lone Star State. These households had an average AGI of $146,000. The net loss was 30,820 households after accounting for the 23,316 Texan households that moved into California. However, these households coming into California had a substantially lower average AGI of $106,196. Less affluent Californians moved to Arizona. Arizona is the second-most popular destination for Californians leaving, with 32,864 households moving out, or a net loss of 16,749. Those moving to Arizona earned the lowest average AGI of the top 10 most popular destinations for Californian transplants at $100,399. Of the 16,115 households moving in from Arizona, the average household AGI was just $77,002.  More than 30,000 Californian households cross the state border to Nevada. Like Texas, Nevada offers the benefit of no state income tax, potentially saving ex-Californians thousands of dollars per year. Nevada was the third-most popular destination for Californians, with those leaving taking an average AGI of $134,796 with them. At the same time, 14,518 households with $86,040 AGI moved to California.  New York transplants bring the most money to California. New York sent 19,708 households to California, made up of 26,821 individuals, with the highest average AGI among in-migrants at $171,829. However, migration between New York and California cancels each other out, with 19,656 households (25,453 individuals) with an AGI of $170,781 moving in. New York ranked as the sixth-most popular destination for Californians moving out. The richest Californians are leaving for Wyoming. A popular destination for the ultra-wealthy, Wyoming attracted 1,368 Californian households that had an average AGI of $284,133. New Hampshire ($204,605) and Florida ($187,025) attracted the second- and third-highest earning Californian households, but only Florida ranked among the top 10 popular destinations for Californians. Top 10 States Where Californians are Headed SmartAsset States are ranked by the gross number of households that moved in from California between 2021 and 2022. Texas Households moving into California: 23,316 Individuals moving into California: 39,032 AGI, households moving into California: $106,197 Households leaving California for Texas: 54,136 Individuals leaving California for Texas: 106,882 AGI, households leaving California for Texas: $145,960 Net households moved into California: -30,820 Net individuals moved into California: -67,850 Arizona Households moving into California: 16,115 Individuals moving into California: 25,677 AGI, households moving into California: $77,002 Households leaving California for Arizona: 32,864 Individuals leaving California for Arizona: 57,857 AGI, households leaving California for Arizona: $100,399 Net households moved into California: -16,749 Net individuals moved into California: -32,180 Nevada Households moving into California: 14,518 Individuals moving into California: 23,983 AGI, households moving into California: $86,040 Households leaving California for Nevada: 30,571 Individuals leaving California for Nevada: 52,332 AGI, households leaving California for Nevada: $134,796 Net households moved into California: -16,053 Net individuals moved into California: -28,349 Washington Households moving into California: 18,275 Individuals moving into California: 29,096 AGI, households moving into California: $162,665 Households leaving California for Washington: 27,550 Individuals leaving California for Washington: 44,160 AGI, households leaving California for Washington: $139,927 Net households moved into California: -9,275 Net individuals moved into California: -15,064 Florida Households moving into California: 13,064 Individuals moving into California: 19,928 AGI, households moving into California: $120,948 Households leaving California for Florida: 24,011 Individuals leaving California for Florida: 42,412 AGI, households leaving California for Florida: $187,025 Net households moved into California: -10,947 Net individuals moved into California: -22,484 New York Households moving into California: 19,708 Individuals moving into California: 26,821 AGI, households moving into California: $171,829 Households leaving California for New York: 19,656 Individuals leaving California for New York: 25,453 AGI, households leaving California for New York: $170,781 Net households moved into California: 52 Net individuals moved into California: 1,368 Oregon Households moving into California: 10,550 Individuals moving into California: 15,806 AGI, households moving into California: $93,067 Households leaving California for Oregon: 19,288 Individuals leaving California for Oregon: 30,421 AGI, households leaving California for Oregon: $104,753 Net households moved into California: -8,738 Net individuals moved into California: -14,615 Colorado Households moving into California: 9,895 Individuals moving into California: 14,929 AGI, households moving into California: $105,770 Households leaving California for Colorado: 15,585 Individuals leaving California for Colorado: 24,864 AGI, households leaving California for Colorado: $129,118 Net households moved into California: -5,690 Net individuals moved into California: -9,935 Tennessee Households moving into California: 3,450 Individuals moving into California: 5,598 AGI, households moving into California: $106,019 Households leaving California for Tennessee: 13,086 Individuals leaving California for Tennessee: 27,295 AGI, households leaving California for Tennessee: $144,543 Net households moved into California: -9,636 Net individuals moved into California: -21,697 North Carolina Households moving into California: 6,495 Individuals moving into California: 10,734 AGI, households moving into California: $82,228 Households leaving California for North Carolina: 11,482 Individuals leaving California for North Carolina: 21,983 AGI, households leaving California for North Carolina: $113,972 Net households moved into California: -4,987 Net individuals moved into California: -11,249 Data and Methodology SmartAsset examined the latest IRS data, which comes from the 2021 and 2022 tax years to determine the number of individuals and households moving out of and into California, where they are coming from and going to within the U.S., as well as the average adjusted gross income they bring with them. This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.