Texas Leads U.S. in Supplying New Residents to Other States

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas has emerged as the leading state in supplying new residents to nine other states, despite experiencing significant population growth itself. Between 2020 and 2024, Texas gained approximately 2.1 million residents, bringing its total population to around 31 million. The states receiving the most new residents from Texas include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

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The high out-migration from Texas can be attributed to its large population, as noted by Dudley Poston, a professor emeritus of sociology at Texas A&M University. He stated, “There’s got to be more people leaving Texas than leaving other states because of the population size of Texas.” Other populous states, such as California, Florida, and New York, also contributed significantly to out-migration trends. California, for instance, was the primary source of new residents for western states like Arizona, Nevada, and Washington, while Florida dominated migration to southeastern states including Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.

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Migration trends are influenced by various economic factors. Richard Doty, a research demographer at the University of Florida, highlighted that Florida's rising real estate and homeowners' insurance prices, along with job opportunities for recent graduates in cities like Atlanta and Charlotte, have made it less affordable as a relocation or retirement option. This shift may be prompting residents to seek opportunities in other states.

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Helen You, interim director of the Texas Demographic Center, emphasized that the states with the largest out-migration numbers—California, Florida, Texas, and New York—are also the states with the largest populations, suggesting a correlation between size and migration patterns. She remarked, “Large populations naturally generate large volumes of both in-and-out migrants.”

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While the Census Bureau data indicates significant internal migration, it also notes that in many states, international migration remains a primary source of new residents. However, in states like Idaho, Kansas, and Montana, domestic migration from other U.S. states was more significant than international arrivals. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of migration dynamics across the country.

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The Census Bureau is expected to release new population estimates that will provide further insights into migration trends and demographic changes in the U.S. for 2025. These upcoming figures may shed light on how economic conditions and policies continue to shape migration patterns in the years to come.

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• “There’s got to be more people leaving Texas than leaving other states because of the population size of Texas.” — Dudley Poston, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Texas A&M University

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• “Large populations naturally generate large volumes of both in-and-out migrants.” — Helen You, Interim Director, Texas Demographic Center

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