Texas boasts that it is a hot-spot destination for domestic movers, but where are these new residents coming from? This blog post analyzes migration patterns using data from the American Community Survey (ACS), with a specific focus on net migration trends in 2022 in Texas. It explores both in-migration (people moving to Texas) and out-migration (people leaving Texas), while focusing on domestic migration within the United States, excluding international movement.
Before delving into net migration patterns, let’s first examine the top ten states from which people move to Texas, as well as the top ten states where Texans relocate. Figure 1 highlights the ten states with the highest number of new residents moving to Texas. California leads with the largest number of new Texas residents (102,442), followed by Florida (41,747) and New York (30,890). Other notable contributors include Illinois, Louisiana, and Colorado, with each state contributing between 21,000 and 25,000 new residents. In total, Texas saw 668,338 domestic movers in 2022, with California alone accounting for 15% of these moves.
Figure 1. Top 10 States With the Most Residents Moving to Texas in 2022
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Figure 2 below showcases the top 10 states where Texans relocate. California (42,279) and Florida (38,207) emerge as the leading destinations. Other popular destinations include Oklahoma (26,440), Colorado (25,466), and Georgia (23,754). The remaining top states—Illinois, Washington, Louisiana, Arizona, and Arkansas—each have between 17,000 and 20,000 residents relocating from Texas. In 2022, a total of 494,077 people moved out of Texas, with approximately 9% of them relocating to California.
Figure 2: Top 10 States To Which Texans Relocated In 2022
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Figures 1 and 2 highlight a strong two-way migration trend between Texas and states like California and Florida. California, in particular, sends the highest number of residents to Texas but is also a major destination for Texans moving out of the state. This indicates a high level of interstate movement, where Texas plays a key role as both a source and destination for residents.
The graphs above illustrate a considerable influx of people from other states choosing to move to Texas, especially to the state’s major metropolitan areas. The accompanying map highlights where these new residents settle, with darker red shaded counties indicating higher concentrations of newcomers in the metropolitan regions. The counties that experience the most in-migration from other states include Harris (Houston), Travis (Austin), Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton (DFW Metroplex), and Bexar (San Antonio).
This population movement is largely driven by economic opportunities, lower housing costs, and greater availability of jobs. Harris County saw the highest number of new residents in 2022, with 72,841 arrivals from other states. Bexar County followed with 49,946 new residents, while Dallas County welcomed 46,107. Additionally, counties like Tarrant and Travis experienced significant in-migration, with 43,459 and 42,307 new residents, respectively, reflecting a strong trend of urban growth throughout Texas. Outside of the major Texas metros, Brazos County also experienced a significant influx of 3,132 net residents in 2022. However, 31 counties (those not shaded on the map) did not receive new residents from other states.
Figure 3: Concentration of New Residents in Texas
The dashboard shows overall net migration estimates based on the ACS data, representing the one-year estimate of how many people moved into Texas minus how many moved out of Texas in 2022. The areas shaded in maroon indicate states that contributed to positive net migration (more people moved to Texas than left), while areas in teal indicate states where Texas experienced a net loss (more people left than moved to Texas for those states). The interactive map allows users to hover over a state, displaying the outflow and inflow of population between that state and Texas. Additionally, it provides specific net migration numbers for each state.
On the left of the dashboard, the first bar chart shows the top five states with the highest migration to Texas in 2022. California topped the list with 102,442 people moving from California to Texas, while 42,279 left Texas for California, resulting in a net migration of 60,163. Out of the total state net migration of 174,261, 35% originated from California. New York was second with 18,657 net migrations. Oregon, Maryland, and Louisiana round out the top five states contributing to net migration to Texas.
The second bar chart highlights the top five states where Texas lost the most people. South Carolina led with the most people moving from Texas to South Carolina than vice versa. Specifically, 6,016 people from South Carolina moved to Texas, while 8,811 Texans relocated to South Carolina, resulting in a net migration loss of 2,795 for Texas. Other states where Texas saw more out-migration than in-migration include Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia.
Overall, Texas experienced a net migration increase from 39 states, while experiencing a net migration loss with 11 states.
The migration data highlights substantial population movement between Texas and other states, particularly California and Florida. These states are leading contributors to both in-migration and out-migration. Overall, Texas continues to experience notable demographic shifts, with a net positive migration from many states.