More Californians and Floridians Are Moving to Texas — and the Trend Still Favors the Lone Star State

By Michael Phillips | TXBayNews

Texas continues to attract residents from across the country, with new data showing that more people are moving to the state from California and Florida than leaving in the opposite direction. While the post-pandemic migration surge has cooled, the underlying trend remains clear: Texas is still winning the interstate population battle.

According to a recent report highlighted by The Center Square and republished by BlackChronicle.com, moving data from HireAHelper shows a strong net inflow to Texas between mid-2024 and mid-2025. The report analyzed roughly 18 million moves nationwide and found tens of thousands more Californians and Floridians relocating to Texas than Texans heading back to those states.

The Numbers Behind the Migration

The data shows approximately 37,000 Californians moved to Texas during the study period, compared to about 14,500 Texans moving to California. Florida followed a similar pattern, with roughly 24,000 Floridians relocating to Texas versus about 15,600 Texans moving to Florida.

The most popular destinations within Texas were the Dallas–Fort Worth region, Houston, and Austin — areas that continue to offer job growth, large housing inventories, and business-friendly policies.

These figures align with U.S. Census Bureau estimates showing Texas posted the largest net domestic population gain in the country, adding more than 85,000 residents from other states in the most recent reporting year.

Why Texas Keeps Gaining Ground

Several factors continue to drive migration into Texas:

• No state income tax, a major draw for workers and retirees leaving high-tax states.
• Job opportunities, particularly in energy, healthcare, logistics, and technology.
• Housing availability, with Texas leading the nation in new home construction.
• Business climate, which continues to attract corporate relocations and expansions.

For many movers, Texas offers a combination of economic opportunity and cost-of-living relief that remains difficult to match in states like California.

A More Balanced Housing Market in 2025

Despite continued population growth, Texas housing prices have cooled in 2025 after years of rapid appreciation. Higher mortgage rates, rising insurance and property tax costs, and a surge in new construction have shifted many markets into correction territory rather than crisis.

Statewide home prices have edged down modestly year over year, with Austin experiencing the sharpest declines due to overbuilding and a slowdown in tech hiring. Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston have remained more stable, supported by diversified job growth and sustained demand.

This cooling has eased some pressure created by migration, making Texas more affordable for both newcomers and longtime residents than during the pandemic peak.

Migration Is Slower — but Still Strategic

While the pace of interstate movement has slowed nationwide, Texas continues to outperform many states losing residents. Analysts note that international migration now accounts for a larger share of overall population growth, but domestic inflows remain an important pillar of Texas’ long-term economic strength.

The takeaway for Texans: the state remains a magnet for workers and families seeking opportunity, even as housing and migration trends normalize.

As interest rates, remote work policies, and economic conditions evolve, Texas appears well positioned to remain a top destination — not because of a temporary surge, but because of structural advantages that continue to attract Americans looking for a better deal.