If California, United States, is the land of milk and honey, why are so many people moving out? From 2021 to 2022, more than 800,000 Californians left for other states. As of 2024, the state’s population was 38.9 million, according to the US Census Bureau, which was a massive drop from the 39.5 million recorded in 2020. At the beginning of the century, it was estimated that California would have reached a population of 45 million by 2020. However, by the look of things, that number is dropping more than it is rising. Let’s find out why many people are leaving what was once seen as a very promising state.
California’s High Cost of Living, Political Instability, and Crime
Three main factors fuel California’s mass exodus: high cost of living, politics, and crime. Unfortunately, these three issues are occurring concurrently, making California quite inhospitable to the millions of people who call it home.
The state’s housing market has become drastically expensive, especially in the past decade. Houses in cities like Los Angeles are going for abnormally high prices. This makes it difficult for low-income earners to secure homes.
The rates of homelessness in California are on a steady rise, with the Golden State being the most affected. These people not only lack affordable housing, but they are also dealing with substance abuse, crime, and mental illness. In Los Angeles alone, more than 75,000 people were reported to be homeless in 2024. The number of shelters isn’t enough to cater to those who cannot afford their own place.
With an income tax rate of up to 12.3%, the cost of living in California has become a public nightmare. As for crime, things have gone a notch higher. Thugs are targeting high-profile individuals as well as upcoming businesses. Besides that, California’s climate is worsening. More floods are being reported, droughts are lasting longer, and sea levels are rising faster than anticipated.
As much as the state government has tried to enforce local housing development projects, such as the one implemented in 2018 that aimed to build 180,000 new homes by Mayor Karen Bass, only half of those houses have been built.
The rising cost of living has increased crime rates in California. These days, robberies at gunpoint have become a norm on most streets. Cell phones are being snatched daily to be sold to the black market. Nothing is safe anymore, not even the catalytic converters in cars.
What Are The Effects of The Rising Crime Rates in California?
The rise in crime has led to many retail stores and upcoming restaurants closing. Investors are thinking twice about opening luxury stores for jewelry and high-end brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. In some areas like Sab Fransisco, open drug markets like the ones in the Tenderloin district are just a mile away from fancy tourist spots in Union Square. What would stop criminals from taking a short walk and grabbing a loot or two? This doesn’t just scare tourists but a lot of Californians are afraid for their lives.
How Climate Change Is Affecting California Residents
Climate change has been crucial in California’s mass exodus in the past five years. California has witnessed a rise in sea level by six inches from 1950. This means that the people in California are at a higher risk of rising oceans than anyone else in the United States. With millions of dollars invested in California’s coast, any tragic event would lead to heavy losses.
Wildfires are at an all-time high. An infamous example is the Camp Fire that occurred in 2018, which ended 90 lives while razing at least 19,000 buildings. More than $16 billion was lost that day. Of the entire community affected by this fire, only 5,000 still live in California. The rest fled to other states and cities.
Drought hits the final head to California’s climate issues. People living in Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley have faced ravaging droughts. And when crops are not drying to the stem, there’s a risk of flooding. The locals here use more water than they store.
How Low Birth Rate Is Affecting California’s Population
Unfortunately, millennials and Gen-Zers are not producing enough babies to compensate for the older generation that is passing away or those that choose to leave. According to a report released by the Public Policy Institute, California is experiencing the fastest fall in birth rates.
Where Do Most People Leaving California Go To?
Most people moving out of California are heading to Las Vegas and Seattle. The latter is preferred mainly because of its thriving tech scene. As for Las Vegas, houses are cheaper there. Also, Las Vegas does not tax the income of its residents, which is a massive relief for many Californians.
While the mass exodus is happening, many Californians still believe in the “Californian Dream”. Everyone has reasons for relocating or staying in California.
