New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of Californians fleeing to another state has begun to slow down, from a net loss of 268,052 residents in 2023 to 254,332 in 2024.

The continued decline further reverses the narrative that’s dominated the media conversation about California since the pandemic. Even with the turnaround, California had the largest outflow of any state in 2024, followed by Florida and Texas, though it’s worth noting that these relocation numbers mirror total population numbers.

California’s favorite state for those moving remained the same in 2024 compared to 2023, with Texas taking the top spot. It had about 7,000 more residents departing for the Lone Star State than in 2023, with about 45,447 Californians moving to Texas in 2024.

Nevada and Arizona remained the other two top spots for California movers. Other popular spots for those leaving the Golden State in 2024 included Florida, Oregon and New York.

The new figures focus on domestic migration and do not take into account births and deaths, which factor in the overall population.

Story Date: January 23, 2026