Californians are STILL Moving to Arizona in Record Numbers

When I was young, I lived in the Midwest. Along about February every year, everyone I knew dreamed of escaping the endlessly cold weather and heading out West, and California seemed like a warm respite from the winter chill.

In our frozen imagination, California was the land of sunny days and balmy temperatures, and our chilled bones longed for its golden shores.

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In the last part of the 20th century, through the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the sunny shores of the California coast attracted many people. Over the years, high taxes, overcrowding, and political shifts and policies have changed the landscape significantly, making it a very different place to live. This is especially hard on middle- and low-income families.

In the new millennium, especially since the pandemic lockdowns, the Golden State has seen a great exodus, and many of the fleeing masses are relocating to Arizona.

READ: California May Export Price Explosion in Arizona with New Bill

It's Not Your Imagination: Californians Really Are Moving To Arizona in Droves

Have you noticed an uptick in Californians moving to Arizona lately? It's not your imagination—there's been a massive influx recently.

Over the past decade, more than 630,000 Californians have moved to the Grand Canyon State, an average of about 173 people per day, according to ABC15.

Why Are So Many Californians Moving to Arizona?

The main draw? Arizona has a much lower cost of living than California. Arizona has a more affordable housing market and a much more relaxed lifestyle. Even our freeways are better and less congested.

Scottsdale and Mesa, on the outskirts of Phoenix, are two of the most popular places Californians are moving to. According to the website Storage Cafe, Maricopa County alone took in around 34,000 Californians in a single year.

READ: Another New California Law Will Have More Moving to Arizona

Tucson is another popular destination for exiled Californians. Those looking for a slightly smaller city vibe find that Old Pueblo fits their lifestyle nicely.

Is Arizona the Only State with an Influx of Californians?

But Arizona isn't the only state seeing a deluge of Californians. Texas, Florida, Washington, and Nevada are the other top destinations for transplants.

According to the story curator, digg.com, Texas, in particular, is a big draw for former Californians. Texas has a booming job market and no state income tax. A big change from a state that has found a way to tax everything, including, literally, the air you breathe.

The main reasons people are fleeing California:

• High housing costs,
• High taxes
• High overall cost of living
• Slower lifestyle
• Politics
• Social policies

The rise of remote work has made it easier for people to live wherever they want without being tied to a specific location.

READ: California To Arizona: The Impact of the Mass Migration

So, you can make a California salary while living on the Arizona economy. Let's just hope the trend doesn't drive the cost of living up for regular Arizonans.