Over 500,000 Californians left the state in the two years after the pandemic began due to rising housing costs and crowded, crime-filled cities, according to a report.
Between April 2020 and July 2022 the number of those leaving California surpassed the number of people moving in by more than 700,000, The Los Angeles Times reported.
According to The Times, unaffordable housing, long commute times, crowds, crime and pollution in urban areas —which have also been plagued by homelessness — were primary reasons people left.
The rise in remote employment, which allows people to not have to live near big cities for work, was also a factor in the population change, the newspaper reported.
While migration out of the state is slowing as the effects of the pandemic end, experts told The Times it could take California years to recover before it again sees population growth that made it the country’s most populous state.
Between July 2021 and July 2022, California lost roughly 211,000 people according to data from California’s Department of Finance.
Half of those — 113,048, were from Los Angeles County alone.
Los Angeles County — California’s largest county — lost around 160,000 in the last 12 months with most leaving for other states.
Dowell Myers, a professor of policy, planning, and demography at the University of Southern California, told The Times that a majority of those who left the state were city-dwellers who left to seek “safe refuge during the pandemic,” with family and friends.
One of the biggest issues is California’s ability to retain young people who move there.
California “still attracts them, it just can’t hold them as well,” Myers said. Many young people flock to California and find themselves with exorbitant rent costs before deciding to move to different states with cheaper housing.
“People who are leaving are much more likely to be homeowners after they leave,” he explained.
Lower housing prices, increased immigration and more births could boost the state’s population, Myers said.
Myers told the paper that by 2023, he believes the “annual change will be much closer to zero.” By 2024, it should turn positive again, he said.
Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at University of California Los Angeles, told The Times that a number of socio-economic factors are pushing people out of the state, but housing costs were the biggest impetus.
“While salaries in other regions and states are lower, the cost of housing is even lower,” he said. “This means that they have a higher standard of living because of more disposable income and/or high chance of owning.”
Many Californians have settled in neighboring states like Nevada and Utah — with Utah reportedly dissuading Californians from moving in.
Net migration out of California surpassed that of New York, the next highest state, by about 143,000 people, according to The Times.
However, California added about 157,000 more people from natural change — the difference in number between births and deaths — than New York, making The Empire State’s population loss greater.
Meanwhile, Texas gained about 884,000 people and Florida gained about 707,000 people in the same time period.
More New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2022 than any other year in history.
As a seasoned expert in demographic trends and migration patterns, I can shed light on the multifaceted factors influencing the population dynamics discussed in the provided article about Californians leaving the state. My extensive background in urban studies, policy analysis, and demography allows me to dissect the nuanced reasons behind this mass migration.
The evidence presented in the article underscores a significant population shift in California between April 2020 and July 2022. The primary drivers of this exodus include unaffordable housing, prolonged commute times, urban congestion, rising crime rates, and pollution. These challenges, compounded by the persistent issue of homelessness, have prompted over 500,000 individuals to leave the state during the two years following the onset of the pandemic.
The rise of remote employment emerges as a notable factor contributing to this demographic transformation. The ability to work from anywhere has empowered individuals to reconsider living in crowded cities, prompting them to seek alternative, more affordable locations. The Los Angeles Times reports that the migration out of California is slowing, but experts suggest it may take years for the state to fully recover and experience population growth reminiscent of its pre-pandemic status.
During the period from July 2021 to July 2022, California experienced a net loss of approximately 211,000 people, with Los Angeles County alone contributing 113,048 to this decline. A key insight from Professor Dowell Myers of the University of Southern California emphasizes that many leaving the state were city-dwellers seeking safety during the pandemic, often with family and friends.
Retaining young people has proven to be a significant challenge for California. Despite its continued ability to attract young individuals, the state struggles to retain them, primarily due to exorbitant rent costs. Professor Myers suggests that lower housing prices, increased immigration, and a higher birth rate could potentially reverse this trend and boost the state's population.
Looking ahead, experts such as Paul Ong, the director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at the University of California Los Angeles, emphasize that housing costs stand out as the predominant impetus for people leaving California. While other regions may offer lower salaries, the significantly lower cost of housing results in a higher standard of living, with more disposable income and increased chances of homeownership.
The data reveals that many Californians have resettled in neighboring states like Nevada and Utah, with Utah reportedly taking measures to dissuade Californians from relocating. The net migration out of California has surpassed that of New York by about 143,000 people, making it the state with the highest population loss during this period. However, it's important to note that California added about 157,000 more people from natural change (births minus deaths) than New York, mitigating the overall population loss.
In comparison, states like Texas and Florida have experienced population gains, with Texas adding about 884,000 people and Florida gaining about 707,000 people during the same timeframe. The article concludes with the intriguing note that more New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2022 than in any other year in history, indicating a broader pattern of interstate migration shaping the demographic landscape of the United States.
