Over the past few years, an incredible amount of Americans migrated to Texas, including many California residents. Although many of us may imagine California as one of the best states to live in, Texas is quickly taking the lead! But you might be wondering: Why are Californians moving to Texas?
Hundreds of thousands of Californians have moved to Texas in the past few years as it is far cheaper to live in Texas than it is in California. Because of the state’s low cost of living, affordable housing, political preferences, and job opportunities, Californians are excitedly moving to Texas!
In this article, we are going to go through the many reasons why Californians are moving to Texas, as well as the statistics from the past few years of how many Californians have moved to Texas. So keep reading; everything you need to know is right here!
Why Are Californians Moving to Texas?
Let’s face it, when you think of the best place to live in America, many of us envision the sunny coast of California. Since America was founded, people throughout the country have packed up their things and headed west in hope of a better life; however, the times are changing, and these days, hundreds of thousands of people are leaving California!
These Californians are mostly heading to the great state of Texas, but why?
- Texas has an incredibly low cost of living.
- There is affordable housing.
- Many job opportunities.
- And some Californians are looking for a different social and political setting.
Now, let’s find out the details of each of these reasons for the mass migration of Californians to Texas!
Low Cost of Living
There is no doubt about it: Living in Texas is far less expensive than living in California.
According to the statistics, on average, Texas has the 15th lowest cost of living in the country, whereas California has the 3rd highest! It costs about $39,661 per year to live in Texas, whereas it takes $46,636 per year to live in California.
Although that might not seem like a big jump, it really makes a difference when it comes to using your salary for necessities versus extracurricular activities and purchases.
Let’s compare how much living in Texas and California will cost the average person:
| Category | Texas | California |
| Housing & Utilities | $7,257 | $9,542 |
| Health Care | $5,793 | $7,638 |
| Food & Beverages | $3,309 | $3,630 |
| Gas & Energy | $812 | $688 |
| All Other Personal Expenditures | $22,490 | $25,138 |
Being able to make your dollar last is important, and Californians have realized they can have a more comfortable life with their same salary in Texas.
Affordable Housing
Including the low cost of living, it is infinitely cheaper to buy a home or rent in Texas than it is in California. For young couples or those who are looking to purchase a new home, you can get a far bigger and nicer home in Texas for a much lower price tag.
For comparison, the average price of a home in the United States is $380.000, but the average price in Texas is $350,000, and the standard home in California costs $788,679.
The numbers really say it all: You can spend less than half on a home in Texas than you would have to in California!
Job Opportunities
There are far more job opportunities in Texas than there are in California for both skilled and unskilled workers.
Many people don’t realize that huge corporations, Fortune 500, and tech companies are moving their headquarters to Texas. Texas has a booming economy and the metropolitan cities are constantly looking for new employees.
As well, Texas hosts thousands of jobs in mining, logging, and manufacturing, so no matter what your skill set is, you are more likely to find a job in Texas than you are in California.
Political Preferences
Politics in America have always been tumultuous, but now, more than ever, there is a great divide in the population. Red voters and blue voters are not getting along, and if you live as a red voter in a blue state, your social life may be seriously affected.
In 2020, 6 million people from California voted Republican, whereas over 11 million people voted Democrat. These 6 million republicans experienced extreme backlash from democrats for their choice, and as you can imagine, many of them are tired of fighting with their neighbors.
Texas is a red state, and many Californians have simply decided they would prefer to live somewhere where their social and political preferences were not ostracized.
How Many Californians Have Moved to Texas?
Reports have shown that between 35,000 and 40,000 Californians have moved to Texas every year for the past decade, and the numbers are only increasing every year. In fact, 82,235 residents of California moved to Texas in 2019!
Although these numbers seem extreme, they probably make a lot more sense now that you understand all the reasons why Californians are moving to Texas!
The Bottom Line
Californians are moving to Texas for a number of reasons, including the low cost of living, affordable housing, job opportunities, and political and social preferences.
Overall, Texas is simply a more affordable place to live, with more space and more opportunities, you might be ready to pack up your bags and move there too!
