Overview
- U.S. Census Bureau data show California’s net domestic loss fell from 268,052 in 2023 to 254,332 in 2024, still the nation’s largest outflow.
- Texas drew about 45,447 Californians in 2024, with Nevada and Arizona next among top destinations cited in the latest counts.
- California’s headcount grew by roughly 19,200 from July 2024 to July 2025, driven by births and an estimated 303,793 international arrivals.
- Across 2023 and 2024 combined, the net domestic loss was about 500,000, while Illinois stood out with an estimated 10,000 net movers to California.
- PPIC analyses report departures remain concentrated among lower-income and less-educated adults, with housing costs the leading reason and pandemic-era higher-income outflows now moderating.