Dallas, Fort Worth rank high for Californians moving to Texas, list says

In a dramatic population shift, Dallas and Fort Worth are among the top Texas cities attracting nearly 100,000 Californians who packed up and moved in just a single year, according to a new report from self-storage marketplace StorageCafe.

StorageCafe analyzed 2023 U.S. Census data to rank the 30 most popular moving routes from California to Texas, based on county-level move-ins. An average of about 262 people make their way from California to the Lone Star state every day — enough to repopulate an entire city like Santa Barbara, according to the list.

Methodology studied in the list included housing costs, demographics, income, education, remote work, Zillow home price trends, Yardi Matrix storage data and February 2025 unemployment rates.

California-to-Texas migration is accelerating fast and it’s not just about escaping sky-high real estate prices. It’s about opportunity, space and lifestyle that offers more for less, according to the list. Tarrant and Dallas counties are the fifth and sixth most-popular areas Californians relocate to, according to the list.

Californians now make up roughly 16 percent of all out-of-state newcomers to Texas, a figure that’s reshaping the demographics and housing markets in cities like Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.

Who’s leaving California for Texas?

It’s mostly high-earning millennials who are making the move to Texas, with 31 percent of all movers in the study falling into this demographic, according to StorageCafe. Behind them is Gen Zers, who account for 20 percent, and Gen Xers, who represent nearly 15 percent of those relocating.

What’s driving the trend?

Texas homes cost about 63 percent less than California homes, and renters are saving around 32 percent compared to similar areas in California, according to the list.

The majority of these movers are Millennials and Gen Zers, that are often remote workers with incomes above the Texas average. These newcomers are seeking more space and financial freedom. In many cases, they’re gaining up to 1,000 additional square feet in housing.

This is all thanks to lower costs and sprawling developments throughout Texas. While the influx is putting pressure on local housing markets — especially in high-demanding cities like Austin — Texas still offers major perks, like:

• No state income tax
• Lower cost of living
• More job opportunities

Top 10 Texas Counties Attracting the Most Californians

Paris Goodman

Fort Worth Star-Telegram