Since 2020
1.7M
Residents left CA
2025 Net Loss
216K
Domestic migration
U-Haul Rank
Dead Last
6th consecutive year
Seats Lost
-4
Expected after 2030 census
Net Domestic Migration
Thousands (negative = more leaving than arriving)
Peak exodus during COVID (2021): 367,000 net domestic loss. Remote work proved people could leave. The outflow slowed but never reversed.
Where They're Going
Top destination states (annual, Census Bureau)
Texas, Nevada, Arizona lead. All have lower taxes, cheaper housing, less regulation. 9 of top 10 U-Haul growth states voted Republican.
Sources: EIA, CAISO, CA Energy Commission, CPUC, CA Legislative Analyst, NRC, AAA, GasBuddy, Tax Foundation, MIT/Stanford, Kpler, Bloomberg, Reuters, CalMatters, UC Davis. March 2026.