population
Mapped: Which States Californians Moved To (2020-2021)
Mapped: Where Californians Moved Between 2020–2021
Californians have had a hard time with it in recent years. Because of the state’s ballooning cost of living, many residents—particularly from middle and low income families—have departed for more affordable states.
But where did they go?
USAFacts tracked data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates, and visualized the states with the highest number of Californian transplants between 2020–21. The interactive heat map colors states by popularity—the darker the shade, the more Californians moved there.
Ranked: States with Highest Californian Transplants
More than 100,000 Californians moved to Texas between 2020–21, well ahead of second place Arizona (63,000 Californians) and third ranked Nevada (55,000).
Texas has recently emerged as a popular destination, not just for Californians, but Americans from all regions. No state income tax and lower cost of living, along with a growing tech hub is pulling in Americans from all income brackets. Meanwhile, Arizona and Nevada offer similar tax and affordability benefits as well.
Here’s the full ranking of which state Californians moved to in the first full year of the pandemic.
Rank | State | Californian Transplants (2020–21) |
---|---|---|
1 | Texas | 105,434 |
2 | Arizona | 63,097 |
3 | Nevada | 54,740 |
4 | Washington | 46,677 |
5 | Florida | 40,730 |
6 | Oregon | 32,906 |
7 | Colorado | 26,911 |
8 | New York | 21,700 |
9 | Idaho | 26,233 |
10 | Tennessee | 23,403 |
11 | North Carolina | 21,961 |
12 | Utah | 19,930 |
13 | Georgia | 18,713 |
14 | Virginia | 18,441 |
15 | Illinois | 13,919 |
16 | Massachusetts | 9,568 |
17 | Pennsylvania | 10,072 |
18 | Hawaii | 10,743 |
19 | Ohio | 9,596 |
20 | Michigan | 9,190 |
21 | Missouri | 9,928 |
22 | New Jersey | 8,091 |
23 | Oklahoma | 9,815 |
24 | Maryland | 7,988 |
25 | South Carolina | 8,838 |
26 | New Mexico | 6,427 |
27 | Indiana | 7,046 |
28 | Minnesota | 6,239 |
29 | Montana | 6,563 |
30 | Wisconsin | 5,417 |
31 | Arkansas | 6,554 |
32 | Alabama | 4,876 |
33 | Kansas | 4,588 |
34 | Kentucky | 4,585 |
35 | Connecticut | 3,932 |
36 | Louisiana | 3,810 |
37 | Iowa | 3,598 |
38 | Washington, DC | 2,381 |
39 | Nebraska | 3,032 |
40 | Wyoming | 2,607 |
41 | Alaska | 2,273 |
42 | South Dakota | 2,484 |
43 | Mississippi | 2,423 |
44 | Maine | 1,965 |
45 | New Hampshire | 1,877 |
46 | Rhode Island | 1,343 |
47 | North Dakota | 1,367 |
48 | Vermont | 1,092 |
49 | Delaware | 961 |
50 | West Virginia | 884 |
On opposite corners of the country Washington (47,000) and Florida (41,000) round out the top five destinations for Californian expats.
On the other hand West Virginia and Delaware were the least popular spots for Californians to move to, with both attracting fewer than 1,000 people.
Ranked: Californian Net Migration
As startling as these numbers seem, it’s also useful to remember that many people also move to California, which is the biggest economic hub in the U.S.
Below we have California’s net migration numbers, accounting for those moving to the state, where a negative number implies that California lost more residents than it gained from a particular state.
State | Californian Net Migration 2020–21 |
---|---|
Texas | -69,342 |
Arizona | -37,825 |
Nevada | -30,386 |
Idaho | -21,558 |
Florida | -20,867 |
Washington | -18,762 |
Tennessee | -18,201 |
Oregon | -17,109 |
Colorado | -12,618 |
Utah | -11,964 |
North Carolina | -11,681 |
Georgia | -8,872 |
Oklahoma | -6,137 |
South Carolina | -5,034 |
Missouri | -4,920 |
Montana | -4,813 |
Virginia | -4,524 |
Arkansas | -4,428 |
New Mexico | -2,505 |
Alabama | -2,502 |
Indiana | -2,444 |
Kentucky | -2,362 |
Ohio | -2,217 |
Hawaii | -2,201 |
Kansas | -1,712 |
Wyoming | -1,669 |
South Dakota | -1,669 |
Pennsylvania | -1,607 |
Michigan | -1,344 |
Iowa | -1,255 |
Wisconsin | -1,189 |
Maine | -1,122 |
Nebraska | -1,033 |
Minnesota | -984 |
Maryland | -910 |
New Hampshire | -865 |
Mississippi | -584 |
Vermont | -539 |
Connecticut | -442 |
West Virginia | -365 |
Delaware | -310 |
Alaska | -277 |
Louisiana | -229 |
North Dakota | -210 |
Rhode Island | -191 |
Washington, DC | +161 |
Massachusetts | +537 |
New Jersey | +1,311 |
Illinois | +1,978 |
New York | +6,031 |
Unsurprisingly, California lost the most net residents to Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. However Idaho jumps past Florida and Washington, with California losing 21,000 more residents than gained from the Gem State.
In fact, both Idaho and Nevada had the highest proportion of incoming Californians to their 2021 populations, at more than 1.38%.
On the other hand, California gained more residents than it lost from four states (New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts) and Washington D.C.
Why Are Californians Leaving?
A key driver of migration is the state’s continuing affordability challenges where housing costs have pushed home ownership out of many Californians’ reach. It is also one of the most difficult states to retire in, where $1 million can last as little as eight years.
Separately, the rise of remote work in 2020 allowed many Californians to move out of their more expensive state to cross into regions with a lower cost of living while maintaining their economic opportunities.
Within the state itself, the more rural, less populous parts have seen, proportionally, the most outward bound migration—a phenomenon occurring across America.
These sustained levels of outward migration, combined with slower population growth, has consequences. California already lost a seat in the House of Representatives after the 2020 Census (Texas gained two and Florida gained one) which results in one fewer vote in the Electoral College and proportionally lower census-guided federal spending.
At the same time however, while domestic outward migration continues, the Golden State is still successfully attracting international immigrants who are more than filling up the gaps.
Where Does This Data Come From?
Source: USAFacts.
Note: USAFacts sources their data from IRS tax returns which has information on tax filers who moved at county, state, and international levels. However, it misses low-income residents who choose not to file taxes. Please view their website for more details.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Maps
Visualized: Population vs. GDP by Global Region
Which regions of the world hold the most economic power? And how does population play a role? We take a look at population vs. GDP in 2025.

Visualized: Population vs. Economic Power by Global Region
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Northern America and Europe hold the most economic power especially for their population size.
- Together they account for more than half of global GDP with only 15% of the population.
- Africa is a significant underperformer for its population size.
In an increasingly tumultuous global economic landscape—where trade wars roil markets, industries, and jobs—where exactly does economic power lie?
And how much is it relative to a region’s population?
This graphic compares five major world regions by their share of global population vs. GDP. These 2025 projections for population and economic output come from the UN and International Monetary Fund (last updated October 2024).
Comparing Each Continent’s Population vs. GDP
Northern America and Europe are powerhouses of the world economy for their population size.
Together they account for more than half of global GDP with only 15% of the population.
Population 2025 | Share of World Population | GDP 2025 | Share of World GDP |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Africa | 1.5B | 19% | $2.8T | 2% |
Asia-Pacific* | 3.5B | 42% | $25.4T | 22% |
China | 1.4B | 17% | $19.5T | 17% |
Latin America & Caribbean | 668M | 8% | $6.9T | 6% |
Europe | 744M | 9% | $28.2T | 24% |
U.S. & Canada | 388M | 5% | $32.7T | 28% |
World | 8.2B | 100% | $115.4T | 100% |
*Excludes China; includes the Caucasus, Middle East, Türkiye, and Oceania. Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.
Every other region underperforms its population weight. Latin America’s only slightly off: 8% of the global population, with 6% of the GDP.
On the other hand, Asia has 60% of the world’s population but contributes only 40% of the GDP.
Within that region, China itself is carrying its fair share: 17% population vs 17% of world GDP.
Finally there’s Africa, the world’s youngest continent by median age and where many of the world’s future humans will be born.
The Africa Story
The second-most populous continent only contributes 2% to the global economy. For context, the region’s entire economic output equals that of France (roughly $3T).
For decades economists have been bullish on Africa, citing how with the right investment and public health measures, the region’s young and growing populace could push consumer demand and increase economic activity.
However one-third of the 1.5 billion population still lives in poverty. Per capita GDP has only increased to $2,000 from $1,000 in the past 45 years.
Research has identified many historical shocks to the economy, including the slave trade and colonization, as well as the lack of institution building, to explain part of the region’s struggles.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
Want a quick look at the entire world economy? We have you covered. Check out: The $115 Trillion World Economy in One Chart.
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