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WHY ARE CALIFORNIAS MOVING TO TEXAS

It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone leaving California, the Golden State, to any other part of the country. This is because California appears to have a lot to offer. For instance, it is the home of Hollywood, the Coachella Music Festival, and Comic-Con. The state is also home to the tech Silicon Valley, has excellent food and weather, an expansive coastline, and diverse culture.
However, with all the amazing places in California, people are leaving and moving to Austin, Texas. So, the question is, what makes Austin more attractive than the Golden State? This article brings you the top six reasons why Californians are relocating. If you’re considering moving from California to Austin, Texas Movers are your best option for an easy and stress-free transition. Contact us today to get a free no-obligation quote.

City of Austin

In recent years, the competition between California and Texas in the number of inhabitants has become very aggravated. We can mark these states as the two most densely populated. Only in 2020, after the census, it was possible to find out that more and more people are moving to live in Texas, many of whom are former Californians. This number includes not only ordinary residents, but also successful businessmen, famous personalities, and owners of large companies.
A prime example: during the coronavirus outbreak, one of the richest, most successful and influential people in the world, Elon Musk, moved to Texas. Namely he moved to the "Lone Star State" from California. Musk said that California has become too "complacent". This is not surprising given the high-income taxes. But in Texas there are no such taxes. With his move, Elon will be able to save a lot, and as you know, the main feature of a successful person is the ability to properly manage money.
Is taxes the reason why many Californians choose living in texas, or are there other factors that contributed to the mass move?
What does an inexperienced person know about the Lone Star? This state is famous for Western films. If a European is asked what he associates Texas with, he will probably answer that with cowboys, sheriffs in rounded hats, cacti and deserts. And only by visiting this place in person, you can see a completely different picture: beautiful megacities, spacious city streets with skyscrapers, in which nature is harmoniously intertwined with its San Antonio River, which runs in the very center of Texas and stretches to the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas people are proud of their state, because it is here that the NASA space center is located – it is the city of Houston. And this is also a historical place, because it was in Dallas that a tragedy of a national scale took place - the assassination of President Kennedy. The state can boast of a developed industry, agriculture, the presence of oil deposits and high technology.
And even this is not all the reasons why more and more californians move to Texas every year.

SHOULD I MOVE TO TEXAS

Austin is not just another city in Texas; it is the capital of the Lone Star State. It is an inland city sharing borders with the Hill County regions and home to the University of Texas flagship campus. The city boasts of an eclectic music scene and several parks and lakes for those who love the outdoors.
Below is all you need to know about Austin, Texas, at a glance.

Facts Statistics
Population 961,885
Median Gross Rent $1,280
Job Market Manufacturing, Technology, Data Management,
Financial Services, Life Sciences, Space Technology
Best Places to Reside Allendale, Barton Hills, Buda, Cedar Park, Cherry Wood,
Downtown, Dripping Springs, East Austin
Cost of Living 3% lower than the national average
Climate Type Humid Subtropical Climate
County Travis County, Williamson County
Rank in State 4th largest city
Rank in Country 11th largest city
Land Area 319.9 sqr. mi
Density 3,162.50/sq mi
Transportation Capital Metro

HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN TEXAS

In this block, we will reveal in more detail what austin texas demographics is and mention other interesting information.
So, the population of Texas is constantly growing and every year its growth is very noticeable. Today the population is about 29 million people . This means that Texas outnumbers even New York. The fact is that the demographics are constantly changing also due to the fact that the famous Rice University is located on the territory of the state.
If we talk about residents, then the most Hispanic speakers are approximately 30%, and there are fewer of all the rest: about 0.42% of Chinese, 0.33% of Germans, 0.25% of French, etc . By the way, what is interesting is that California in terms of population growth ranks second just after Texas. The racial composition is:

  • White people - about 70%;
  • Blacks - approximately 12%;
  • Asians - about 4%;
  • Native Americans (Native Americans or Eskimos from Alaska) - 0.7%;
  • Indigenous people of Hawaii and Oceania - about 0.1%;
  • Mixed races - about 2.7%;
  • Other races - about 10.5%.

Thus, the situation has developed in such a way that the average population density of the state is 38 people per square kilometer (this is 26th place in the United States of America). In the cities of the state, the situation is also serious - in Houston there are approximately 2.1 million residents, in San Antonio this figure reaches 330 thousand people, and in Dallas - 1.3 million . With 820,000 people living in Austin, this is number 20 on the list.
In more detail, everything that concerns the population of Austin, according to today's statistics, about 970 thousand people already live in the territory. And the growth is felt regularly . The city contains a certain percentage of different races, namely:

  • 68.3% of white;
  • 0.1% of Hawaiian or from areas of Oceania;
  • 8.2% blacks;
  • almost 1% of Indians;
  • 6.3% of Asians;
  • almost 13% of other races.

But there are also a lot of Hispanic people - about 35%. Also, demographic data suggests that Austin has many households (about 325,000), as well as many married couples (about 37%). As for income, the average income per family is 70 thousand US dollars . This means that one person living on a permanent basis in this city can earn about 32 thousand dollars a year. True, there are also enough poor families - about 14%, and approximately 20% are below the poverty line. A lot of young people live in the city (about 27%), and there are fewer old people (about 8-9%) of the total population
According to the United States Census Bureau, the racial demographics in Austin, Texas, is as follows:

  • White alone: 72.6%
  • African American alone: 7.8%
  • Asian alone: 7.6%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.7%
  • Two or more races: 3.5%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 33.9%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.1%
  • White alone not Hispanic or Latino: 48.3%
Reasons why Californian People Move to Austin

CALIFORNIA VS TEXAS

One of the key indicators that influence the choice of residence of almost every person, whether he is an average office worker or a rich and successful businessman, is the cost of living. This concept includes prices for rent and purchase of housing, food, entertainment, transport, utilities and taxes.
This is a key reason many people move from california to texas: the cost of living in California has been the highest in the US for many years. This is especially true for residents of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Housing prices in these places are sky-high. If we are talking about living of a family with children, working in the office, frankly, it is very difficult. For example, the average price for a house in these cities is the second highest in the country. And only Hawaii was able to get ahead of California in this criterion.
Is it any wonder that the inhabitants of the "Golden State" are so actively moving to the cheaper, but no less popular and comfortable "Lone Star State"! The latter is on the list of the cheapest places to live. First up is Mississippi. But if we talk about the combination of a high standard of living and affordable prices, then Texas becomes an ideal choice.
Now you can answer the question of why is everyone leaving California. The reasons for choosing Texas are as follows:

  • cheap real estate;
  • low taxes;
  • good geographical location;
  • developed industry;
  • cheap labor;
  • the opportunity to develop a business from scratch;
  • availability of job vacancies.

Add to all this beautiful nature and a combination of urban and rural areas, and moving can be considered the best decision in the life of Californians.

HOW FAR IS TEXAS FROM CALIFORNIA

The distance between the states on highways - from one capital to another - is 2260.8 kilometers. If you get directly by car, then it will take 20 hours and 45 minutes to overcome the path. Fuel consumption will be 226 liters.
The distance in a straight line is 1240 kilometers. These are 771 miles .
You can get from one state to another by plane, bus, train or car. There are several flights for those who are used to traveling by air and these are:

  • From San Diego to El Paso, travel time is 4 hours and 20 minutes.
  • From San Diego to Austin - you can get there in 4 hours and 31 minutes.
  • From Los Angeles to El Paso, the travel time is 4 hours 52 minutes.
  • From San Diego to Dallas - the flight takes 4 hours 36 minutes.
  • From San Diego to San Antonio - you can get there in 4 hours 53 minutes.
  • From Los Angeles to San Antonio - travel time is 5 hours 22 minutes.

To get from Baja California, the city of Tijuana to Ciudad Juarez, you can partly by plane and partly by bus in 5 hours and 34 minutes .
The train will take you there during 35 hours and 10 minutes. This is a budget option, but takes a lot of time. It is suitable for those who want to save money on moving, have large luggage and are not in a hurry to a new state for work or other matters.
If Californians moving to Texas by plane, they manage to get to a new place as quickly and comfortably as possible, but at the same time they will have to pay a lot of money. Flight is the most expensive type of travel possible in this case.
To move by bus, you need to spend even more time than by train, since the route will be more difficult. Travel time will be 37 hours and 40 minutes.
Those who decide to travel by private car on highways will have to prepare for a trip for a period of almost 24 hours. Plus, you need to add stops for the driver to rest, snacks and other needs. So, you need to take 2-3 days for the trip.
Interesting Facts:

  • It will take 16 days to get from California to Texas on foot without stopping.
  • Travel time by bike takes 113 hours if you don't stop. The cyclist will be able to burn almost 612 thousand calories.
  • If your dog runs this distance, then it will take less time than you - only 9 days.

You need to purchase plane, bus or train tickets in advance, as the popularity of these routes has increased greatly during the coronavirus.

COST OF LIVING IN CALIFORNIA VS TEXAS

California and Texas are the two largest states in the United States, both in terms of population and land area. As for the cost of living, it varies greatly between states. With more people planning moving from California to Texas, you can see where prices are higher. Even big businessmen who don't have money problems give up life in the sunny state, preferring to live in the state, which has become the main setting for many world westerns.
To calculate how much cheaper living is in a particular place, economists calculate the average amount that a person should spend on living in standard conditions. For this, the costs of food, housing, clothing, medical treatment, education and transport are calculated.
After experts calculated the cost of living for one and the second state, it became clear that in Texas it is almost 28% lower than in California.
From the research of experts we can mention the following:

  • Texas is more accessible in the material sense in relation to all spheres of human life and activity.
  • California is on the list of states with the highest living expenses.
  • The cost of living does not always equal its quality.

When deciding to move to Texas, people compare the cost of housing in each state in advance to understand how much and where they can save. Let's look at the prices for renting a 1-room apartment per month in:

  • San Francisco, California - $3,800.
  • Austin, Texas - $1,300.

Interestingly, an apartment in the capital of Texas is almost three times cheaper than an apartment of the same size in a California city that is not the capital.
Now consider the cost of housing and communal services per month:

  • In California - $220.
  • In Texas - $130.

The bill difference shows that people moving out of California to be able to save about $1,100 a year.
In terms of food, the average Texan living on his own without a family will eat a little more than $2,900 a year, while a Californian under the same conditions would eat $3,500.
It takes $25,000 in Texas and $32,000 in California to raise one child in one year.
Medical care is two and a half times cheaper in the Lone Star State than in the Golden State.
Now let's talk about transportation costs. The average adult Texan will have to spend 10% less money on getting around the city in a private car than a Californian.

IS TEXAS BIGGER THAN CALIFORNIA

California and Texas joined the US with a slight time difference. But here, too, Texas proved faster, becoming part of the United States in 1845. California joined the Union five years later. Today, these two states have become the most populous in America. And people of various nationalities live in their territories. In general, the ethnic composition of the two states is similar.
Exactly until the moment when taxes in California did not rise, the inhabitants of the state still put up with prices. When it was not at all warm to live in a sunny place, people began to actively leave it. Most often, other states of America become places for moving. Texas is one of the most popular destinations for Californians. And not only because the prices here are an order of magnitude lower, but also because it is a large, developed state in which there are jobs. All this reminds them of the places in which they previously had to live.
Texans themselves like to joke that they have everything big. If we talk about the area of ​​​​the territory and the population, then this is partly not a joke. The state ranks second in terms of area, behind only Alaska. But in terms of population, it is also in second position with 30 million people, but it is inferior just to California with its almost 39.5 million people.
But what cannot be called “big” is the cost of living. According to this indicator, the state is among the most comfortable and financially profitable.
As for the demographic issue, the situation is changing very quickly. Given the fact that more and more Californians are going to live in Texas, it speaks of a gradual increase in the population of the latter and a decrease in the population in California. So, maybe eventually the Western and Cowboy State will beat the Beach and Gold State in the "Biggest" race in the "Population" category.

TEXAS LIVING

Here are some fun things to know if you’re considering moving to the Texas capital:

  • The Texas Capitol Building in Austin has 30 view corridors.
  • Humans have resided in Austin since at least 9200 BC.
  • Austin is one of the safest major U.S. cities.
  • Austin is home to about 750,000 bats in spring and summer.
  • The city has over 300 sunny days yearly.
  • Austin is famous for folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, Tejano, zydeco, new wave, punk, and indie music scenes.
  • Austin is known for its Aux-Mex breakfast consisting of tasty breakfast tacos and juicy barbecue.

WHY ARE PEOPLE LEAVING CALIFORNIA

Below, we share the top six reasons why Californians are moving to Austin.

Reason 1: Relatively Low Living Cost

If there’s one reason to move to Texas, particularly Austin, it’s the low cost of living. The living cost in the metropolitan city is 3% lower than the national average. The preceding is based on a system that calculates living costs based on career, average living cost, and real estate in a particular area.
The cost of living in Austin is significantly lower than that of California. A rating system that uses 100 as the average living cost in the United States placed the cost of living in California at 149.9. This shows that it is way cheaper and more cost-effective to move from California to Texas.
Also, Texas has a more flexible tax system than the west coast state. California has one of the highest taxes in the country. Its sales tax rate is 7.25%, and the income tax can be as high as 12.3%, depending on your income. Texas has no income tax, with its sales tax rate at 6.25%. With what Californians stand to save by moving to Texas, it’s no surprise they are migrating to Austin.

Reason 2: Affordable Housing

The Golden State may have a lot of sunshine all year round and excellent career prospects, but its expensive housing seems to shadow all that. Imagine working all year only for a massive chunk of the money to go into paying rent or mortgage. In May 2020, the median price for a single-family home in California was $588,070. Of course, it also doesn’t help that the average rent for an apartment is $1,488.
But the story is different in Austin. The boom of the real estate market in the city has made housing more affordable, thereby making it the ideal place when relocating to Texas. As a result, several young families can afford to buy a home if they choose, and the rent is lower than what’s obtainable in California.

Reason 3: Awesome Weather

Low cost of living and affordable housing are not the only reasons to move to Texas from California. Several other factors make Austin more appealing to Californians than other cities in the U.S. with similar benefits. One such factor is the weather.
While the Golden State has endless sunny days, Austin has a similar climate. The city gets about 300 days of sunshine yearly, making it the perfect place for west coasters who love clear, bright days. Furthermore, Austin boasts of a humid climate. During the year, the temperature typically shifts from 43°F to 97°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 102°F.

Reason 4: Vibrant Job Market

The high-paying jobs on the west coast have not stopped people from moving to Texas from California. This is because the Golden State capital offers similar opportunities. Plus, it has less competition than the California job market.
One appealing fact about the Austin job market is that it is a thriving location for tech companies and innovators. The city has a location-tagged “Silicon Hills,” like the Silicon Valley in California. It is home to about 5,500 startups and major tech companies like Apple and Cisco.
While it appears that Austin has cemented its place as a tech domain, the tech sector promises more growth, especially in high-demand and high-pay areas. So, it’s no wonder that techy Californians are making a move to Texas before the job market gets as competitive as Silicon Valley. In addition, manufacturing, financial services, and space technology offer attractive career options.
Furthermore, Elon Musk describing Austin as the “biggest boomtown” America has seen in 50 years could be a significant reason why Californians are moving to Texas. Austin is already booming, ranking as one of the top ten cities for startups in the US. In addition, the state capital ranks as one of the top ten cities for job growth and is the fifth city with the lowest unemployment rate.

Reason 5: Active Lifestyle

Californians are known for their vibrant and outdoorsy lifestyle due to their perfect weather. So, when they move from California to Texas, they are not leaving their way of life behind. This is because Austin offers a vibrant lifestyle much like what they had on the west coast. Californians moving to Austin also enjoy parks, fitness centers, drive-ins, boating, skydiving, golf courses, etc.

Reason 6: Numerous and Diverse Activities

Let’s be honest; no one wants to live in a boring city without any form of social life. While a vibrant job market, low-cost living, and affordable housing are excellent prospects, a city needs more than that to attract people. Thankfully, Austin offers numerous and diverse activities to the thousands migrating to it yearly. People moving from California to Austin find that they don’t have to change much about their lives. So adapting to their new environment is not hard.

City of Austin

WHY IS TEXAS SO CHEAP

Texas belongs to the group of the cheapest states in America. This is due to the prices for standard services, namely:

  • food, drinks - in a cafe, takeaway food from a cafe, food delivery, street food, groceries in supermarkets;
  • entertainment, leisure - cinema, theater, children's and entertainment centers, boat trips along the river, fishing;
  • housing - purchase, rent;
  • utilities - electricity, water, TV, internet, heating;
  • mobile connection;
  • transport services - travel in public transport, fuel.

It is also worth considering that in different cities of Texas, there are also different standards of living and prices are different. For example, living in Houston is more expensive than in Austin, but at the same time cheaper than in New York by 30%! Even a meal at McDonald's costs $1 less in Houston than in New York.
It's even cheaper to live in Austin. Dallas is considered more expensive than Houston and Austin. But even choosing this city to live in, the cost of living will be many times less than when living in the cheapest city in California.
But San Antonio has a cost of living below the national average. These savings can be explained by very low prices for rent and purchase of housing due to the absence of income tax. Although we must not forget that in this city there are higher taxes on real estate and sales.
Compared to other cities in the state, San Antonio is almost 14% cheaper than Dallas and 9% cheaper than Houston.
In order to live happily and not worry about the lack of money, one adult person will need the following amount of money per year:

  • 120 thousand dollars in Dallas.
  • 70-80 thousand dollars in Austin.
  • 80-100 thousand dollars in Houston.

The most expensive city to live in Texas is Southlake. In second and third place are the cities of Bellaire and Fredericksburg, respectively. And again, even in these places the cost of living will be lower than in California and many other states and cities in America.

PEOPLE LEAVING CALIFORNIA

Is Texas Better Than California?

In the strict sense, no state is better than the other. What’s important is whether the state has what you’re looking for at the time. However, Texas does offer some benefits that California doesn’t. For example, it has no income tax, lower sales tax, more affordable, and a diverse job market. The preceding are some of the reasons to live in Texas instead of California.

Is Austin, Texas, a Good Place to Live?

If you want lower taxes, affordable houses, temperate weather, diverse culture, and a promising job market, you should consider moving from California to Austin. The city offers all these and more, and newcomers can settle in quickly.

IS TEXAS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE

Many are wondering why are people moving out of California so active in recent years? The main reason is too high taxes. Needless to say, even if Elon Musk changed sunny California to Texas! No matter how much money you have, no one wants to give away just like that. And if the cost of living becomes too high in your place of residence, you need to look for a budget alternative. Fortunately, in the United States, it was not so far away – namely in Texas.
If we talk about the key advantages of leaving California, we can highlight the following:

  • Comfortable weather all year round. Most of the time - 9-10 months in the state is dominated by a temperature of +20 degrees Celsius. The rest of the time there is heat - from 35 to 40 degrees with “+” indicator. The place is suitable for raising children, people who are allergic to the cold or who simply cannot stand the cold.
  • Friendly and hospitable people. Unknown people will sincerely greet you during your walks and wish you a good day. If you need help, for example, you are standing at a bus stop, and the buses are no longer running, you will definitely be driven to the city or wherever you need. It is really so sweet. This attitude is pleasant for every person, because you will always feel support, you will get the filling if you are at home.
  • Feeling of love for nature. Texans are very sensitive to nature. They protect both flora and fauna.
  • Clean streets, 100 % order all year round. Cleaning on the streets is carried out at exactly the right time. This is strictly controlled.
  • Facilities for children. Texas is a good place to raise children of all ages. For them, there are a variety of clubs, courses in foreign languages, creative activities, and a bus brings them from home and to home. In every city there are playgrounds for sports games and leisure activities for children.
  • Low taxes. But most importantly, the population clearly sees where their taxes go: to improve the educational sector, infrastructure, roads, hospitals, and so on.

It is also easier to open and run a business in Texas. For people who are looking for a job, there are many job openings available. So, couples may not worry about settling in a new place, as they will be able to find a position suitable for their profession in a short period of time.

IS TEXAS NEW GOLDEN STATE

The title of "golden" remains with California to this day, the reason for which is the gold reserves discovered in the bowels in the 19th century and the presence of an abundance of sandy beaches. And although many Americans today say that Texas can take this high-profile title due to the active movement of Californians into it, the statuses still remain unchanged.
The only reference to the title of "Gold" for Texas is the creation of its own personal gold vault, which allows you to store the precious metal within the region.
And only for those who left an expensive place and moved to the territory of the “lone star state” does understand that for them this place can become a new “golden state”. The mere monetary savings over $1,000 a year is worth it!
But the reasons not to move to Texas include the need for insurance, otherwise you can become bankrupt using the services of medicine, as well as a high crime rate in some cities and a language barrier due to the abundance of nationalities.
Summing up, we can say that the state of Texas is one of the most successful places for living, single people, newlyweds, couples with children, as well as beginners or already famous businessmen. It has a low-income tax, so renting a house is quite profitable. And there are many free vacancies in the state, there is no unemployment, a comfortable climate all year round, good ecology and many natural places where you can relax outdoors. Paradise place, right? Everyone can find here exactly what they are looking for.

Moves from CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS

Having seen why Californians are moving to Austin, you might be considering a move yourself. However, conducting an interstate or long-distance move without a professional moving company would be stressful and inconvenient. So, rather than go through the hassle yourself, let our professional state-to-state movers help you. We offer packing services and items at an affordable fee. We can also help you unpack and settle into your new home without any hassle. So, contact us today to get a free quote.

Other Useful Resources

The rush to move to Texas has made it a trendy destination. These links might be able to help sort out a few details.
Moving to Texas
Texas is a big state, and this is what you need to know when moving to Texas to feel at home here.
Moving to Austin
Planning on moving to Austin ? This article can guide you on what you should be aware of.
Moving to Houston
Houston's a massive city, and this article gives you a heads-up about moving to Houston to prepare you for living there.
Moving to San Antonio
If you're moving to San Antonio , we can give you some good insights into the area and how to make the most of your move there.
Moving to Dallas
Dallas is a vast city, and this article has all you need to know to remain stress-free when moving to Dallas .