New U.S. Census Bureau migration flow data show Texas was the top origin of new residents for nine states, even as it added roughly 2.1 million people from 2020–2024. Other large states — California, Florida and New York — also supplied many movers to neighboring and regional states. Analysts say population size explains much of the outflow, though rising housing costs and regional job markets influence moves as well.
Census: Texas Was Top Origin Of New Residents For Nine States As It Added 2.1 Million People
FILE - A sign at a UHaul store looking to hire employees is also offering a bonus, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Boynton Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ORLANDO, Fla. — New U.S. Census Bureau state-to-state migration figures released this week show Texas was the leading origin of new residents for nine states, even as the state recorded the largest numeric population increase this decade.
Key Findings
The Census data identify Texas as the top source of new residents for Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Texas, with roughly 31 million residents, gained about 2.1 million people between 2020 and 2024.
Other large states also exported substantial numbers of movers. California (about 39 million people) supplied the most new residents to several western states — Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington — and to Tennessee. Florida (about 23 million) was the leading source of new arrivals in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio, and gained roughly 1.8 million residents during the same period. New York was the top origin for Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey, while Illinois supplied the most new residents to Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.
“The obvious and primary answer is size,” said Dudley Poston, professor emeritus of sociology at Texas A&M University. “There’s got to be more people leaving Texas than leaving other states because of the population size of Texas.”
Analysts say sheer population size explains much of the outflow, but local conditions play a role as well. Richard Doty, a research demographer at the University of Florida, noted higher housing and homeowners’ insurance costs and shifting job opportunities — especially for recent graduates heading to metro areas like Atlanta and Charlotte — as contributing factors.
Regional patterns were predictable in many places: former Massachusetts residents were the largest group of newcomers in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Former Wisconsinites made up the biggest share of new Minnesotans, and people leaving North Carolina were the largest source of newcomers to South Carolina.
In most states in 2024, arrivals from abroad were the single largest source of new residents. Exceptions — where inbound moves from other U.S. states outpaced international arrivals — included Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The Census Bureau plans to release updated population estimates next week that will reflect changes into 2025.
AP News; reporting by Mike Schneider.
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