Mapping Where Californians Moved Between 2020–2021
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Mapped: Which States Californians Moved To (2020-2021)

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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.

RankStateCalifornian Transplants
(2020–21)
1Texas105,434
2Arizona63,097
3Nevada54,740
4Washington46,677
5Florida40,730
6Oregon32,906
7Colorado26,911
8New York21,700
9Idaho26,233
10Tennessee23,403
11North Carolina21,961
12Utah19,930
13Georgia18,713
14Virginia18,441
15Illinois13,919
16Massachusetts9,568
17Pennsylvania10,072
18Hawaii10,743
19Ohio9,596
20Michigan9,190
21Missouri9,928
22New Jersey8,091
23Oklahoma9,815
24Maryland7,988
25South Carolina8,838
26New Mexico6,427
27Indiana7,046
28Minnesota6,239
29Montana6,563
30Wisconsin5,417
31Arkansas6,554
32Alabama4,876
33Kansas4,588
34Kentucky4,585
35Connecticut3,932
36Louisiana3,810
37Iowa3,598
38Washington, DC2,381
39Nebraska3,032
40Wyoming2,607
41Alaska2,273
42South Dakota2,484
43Mississippi2,423
44Maine1,965
45New Hampshire1,877
46Rhode Island1,343
47North Dakota1,367
48Vermont1,092
49Delaware961
50West Virginia884

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.

StateCalifornian 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.

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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.

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This graphic compares five regions of the world and their population vs. economic power (or GDP) as of 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).

ℹ️ Each region’s GDP is shown in nominal U.S. dollars, which can be affected by exchange rates and local prices. Adjusting for purchasing power parity would result in a very different visualization. However, using USD reflects relative global economic power, as it remains the world’s reserve currency and drives trade and investment, both crucial for growth.

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 2025Share of World
Population
GDP 2025Share of
World GDP
Africa1.5B19%$2.8T2%
Asia-Pacific*3.5B42%$25.4T22%
China1.4B17%$19.5T17%
Latin America &
Caribbean
668M8%$6.9T6%
Europe744M9%$28.2T24%
U.S. & Canada388M5%$32.7T28%
World8.2B100%$115.4T100%

*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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