California is curiously alluring to those east of the Mississippi River.
My trusty spreadsheet tells me that fresh Census migration data for 2017 shows California, accounting for its nation-leading population, as the worst state at attracting new residents from elsewhere in the U.S. At the same time, only two states — Michigan and Texas — fared better proportionally at retaining their residents than California.
So, from where do these rare Californians newbies hail? And where do the modest number of exits from California go?
Its a good bet the few new neighbors you have come far. Meanwhile, a large share of those who departed didnt venture out of the West. Let my trusty spreadsheet explain.
In 2017, 523,131 people came to California, a tiny 1.3 percent sliver of the states 39 million residents. All the Texas lovers should note the Lone Star state was last years top source for new Californians via interstate relocation, with 40,999 making the move West.
New York was the former home of Californias second-largest source of new residents (34,278) followed by Washington (33,143); Illinois (27,117); and then a border state — Arizona at 26,907.
As for outflow, 661,026 exited California, a scant 1.7 percent slice of the population. Texas — the second most-populous state — was also the top spot for folks departing California as 63,174 relocated to the Lone Star State. Next came west-of-the-Rockies states. Arizona at 59,233; followed by Washington (52,484); Oregon (50,109) and Nevada (47,513).
Of course, ins and outs add up to a “net” score which saw California with a total net outmigration — more outs than ins — of 137,895 last year or 0.4 percent of the population.
On a state-by-state basis, though, California was looking good to folks east of the Mississippi.
Californias largest net in-migration was with Illinois as 11,071 more people came to the Golden State than exited to the Land of Lincoln. Then came New York (9,296); Virginia (6,653); Pennsylvania (5,146); and New Jersey (4,938).
Californias biggest migration deficits had a Western flair.
The No. 1 state for net outmigration was Arizona, which added 32,326 more Californians that who departed for the Golden State. No. 2 was Oregon, 29,561 more Californians in than losses to the Golden State. Next in the rankings came moves between Nevada, with California outmigration of 23,745; Texas (22,175); Washington (19,341); and Idaho (15,746).
Check out this map with all the state-by-state migration details for 2017 …
Note: Story updated to show correct rankings of outmigration states.
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