Californians are ditching the warm weather and scenic topography of the Golden State as its cost of living continues to climb and finding themselves ahead financially by locating to other western states.
That’s the conclusion of the University of Colorado’s California Policy Lab’s recent report “Priced Out: Relocation Amidst California’s Affordability Crisis.”
Daunting housing prices and rising everyday expenses — including gas currently around $6 a gallon, some $2 more than in many other states — are motivating residents to relocate to more affordable areas.
“On average, movers relocate to neighborhoods where monthly housing costs are $672 less,” the study found. “After seven years, they are 48% (or 11 percentage-points) more likely to own a home.”
The study analyzed credit bureau data tracking migration patterns from 2016 to 2025.
It found that part of the trend was generated by residents in desirable higher income communities who were no longer able
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