Why thousands are leaving California (and never looking back)

08/16/2025 / By Ava Grace

Nearly 683,000 people left California in a single year, the highest outbound migration in the U.S., with millennials (31 percent) leading the trend. Texas is the top destination, attracting 98,000 former Californians in 2023 alone.
Residents cite skyrocketing taxes, oppressive regulations, failing schools and intrusive government policies (e.g., laws restricting parental notification of gender identity changes). Businesses are also fleeing – 441 relocated headquarters since 2018.
Housing costs in Texas are 63 percent lower than in California, with rent 32 percent cheaper. Many transplants hold degrees, earn above the Texas average and work remotely. Top relocation areas include Austin’s Travis County and Houston’s Harris County.
Major companies like Chevron and SpaceX moved to Texas for lower taxes and fewer regulations. California’s education policies (e.g., attacks on charter schools) further drive families away, while Texas offers more affordability and choice.
While home prices in Texas have risen sharply (up 86 percent in a decade), they remain far cheaper than California. The migration trend continues as former Californians share success stories, fueling further departures.

California is hemorrhaging residents at an alarming rate. Nearly 683,000 people fled the state in a single year, according to the latest U.S. Census data – the highest outbound migration in the nation. Leading the charge? Millennials, who made up 31 percent of those abandoning the state, followed by Gen Z and Gen X. Their top destination? Texas, which welcomed roughly 98,000 former Californians in 2023 alone.

The reasons for this mass exodus are no secret: skyrocketing taxes, suffocating regulations, failing schools and a government that increasingly inserts itself into family decisions. Businesses are also fleeing, with 441 companies relocating their headquarters since 2018. The trend is undeniable – California is losing its grip and Texas is reaping the benefits. (Related: EXODUS: How wildfires, crime and woke policies are driving residents out of California.)

The great California exodus

For years, California has been the undisputed leader in outbound migration, but the numbers are now staggering. StorageCafe’s report reveals that an average of 262 Californians moved to Texas every day in 2023. U-Haul’s latest data confirms the trend, ranking California as the top state for one-way truck rentals outbound for the fifth straight year.

The primary drivers? Financial survival.

Housing costs in Texas are 60 percent lower than in California, and rent is 30 percent cheaper. Millennials and Gen Z transplants earn above the Texas average, with many holding bachelor’s degrees and working remotely. Top destinations include Austin’s Travis County and Houston’s Harris County, each absorbing over 10,000 new residents from California.

Why they’re leaving

The financial burden in California is unsustainable. The state imposes some of the highest income and property taxes in the nation, while insurance costs spiral out of control. But it’s not just economics – families are fleeing a broken education system and intrusive government policies.

Public school enrollment has plummeted by over 762,000 K-12 students since 2015, according to the California Policy Center. Parents are fed up with state interference, particularly laws like AB 1955, which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child changes gender identity. Meanwhile, proposed legislation like AB 495 – dubbed a “child trafficker’s dream bill” by parental rights advocates – threatens to strip guardianship rights with minimal oversight.

Businesses follow suit

Corporations are voting with their feet. Major companies like Chevron, SpaceX and Charles Schwab have relocated their headquarters, citing high taxes, excessive regulation and unaffordable living costs for employees. Texas, with no state income tax and a business-friendly environment, has been the biggest beneficiary.

Even education alternatives are under attack. California lawmakers, heavily influenced by teachers’ unions, are pushing measures like AB 84 to defund charter schools, further limiting parental choice. Meanwhile, the federal Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), which would provide scholarships for private education, is likely to be blocked by California legislators.

The Texas boom – and its consequences

While Texas welcomes newcomers, the influx isn’t without challenges. Home prices have surged 86 percent statewide in the past decade, with hotspots like Dallas and Tarrant counties seeing increases of 114 percent and 130 percent, respectively. Yet despite rising costs, Texas remains far more affordable than California.

Real estate experts predict the migration will continue, albeit at a steadier pace. Former Californians, now settled in Texas, are sharing their success stories on social media, fueling a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) among those still struggling in the Golden State.

The end of the California dream

California’s decline is no longer speculative – it’s measurable. Families, businesses and young professionals are abandoning the state in record numbers, seeking financial freedom, better education and less government intrusion. Texas, with its economic opportunities and lower cost of living, has become the promised land for disillusioned Californians.

The question now is whether California’s leaders will reverse course or continue driving residents away. For now, the exodus shows no signs of slowing. As the Eagles once sang, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Except now, they are leaving – and they’re not looking back.

Watch a discussion on California Exodus.

This video is from Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.