Moving from California to DFW?
See the full cost, schools, and safety breakdown - then verify any rental before you pay.
California to DFW relocation guideFree to try. No credit card.
The numbers: the largest migration in the country
No other state-to-state flow comes close:
- ✓In 2023, 93,970 Californians moved to Texas - the single largest state-to-state migration flow in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).
- ✓Texas posted net domestic migration gains of about +174,000 that year, while California lost roughly -342,000 residents on net (U.S. Census, 2023).
- ✓Dallas-Fort Worth is a top-three landing spot for California movers (about 20% of Texas-bound arrivals, behind Austin and Houston).
Why they leave California for Texas
It is mostly cost - taxes, housing, and business climate:
- ✓Taxes: Texas has no state personal or corporate income tax; California's top personal rate reaches 13.3% (Tax Foundation, 2025).
- ✓Housing: California's median home price was about $861,000 in late 2024 vs a Texas median list price near $365,500 - a gap of roughly $500,000. The monthly mortgage difference between a Bay Area home and a Dallas house runs $2,000-$4,500 (up to $54,000/yr).
- ✓Business: the Hoover Institution ties the corporate exodus to high taxes, regulation, and cost of living - 114 of 265 California HQ relocations (2018 to mid-2021) went to Texas, more than any other state.
Where Californians land in DFW
The destination depends on the job and the budget:
- ✓Tech + corporate transplants cluster in the northern corridors - Plano, Frisco, and Allen (Legacy West, the Telecom Corridor) - near Toyota, JPMorgan, and the California firms that moved here (CBRE, AECOM, First Foundation).
- ✓Affluent families favor Southlake and Westlake (where Charles Schwab moved its HQ); value-focused movers look to McKinney, Celina, and Prosper.
- ✓Because so many move sight-unseen, vetting a rental remotely before paying is essential - verify the address against county records and run any listing through a scam check.
Frequently asked questions
How many Californians moved to Texas in 2023?
93,970 Californians moved to Texas in 2023 - the single largest state-to-state migration flow in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Why are Californians moving to Texas?
The main drivers are cost. Texas has no state income tax (California's top rate is 13.3%), and the median home price is roughly $500,000 lower (about $365,500 in Texas vs $861,000 in California). Jobs follow the same path - more than 100 California company headquarters have relocated to Texas since 2018.
Where do Californians move in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Tech and corporate transplants cluster in the northern suburbs - Plano, Frisco, and Allen - near Legacy West and the Telecom Corridor. Affluent families favor Southlake and Westlake (home of Charles Schwab's HQ), while value-focused movers choose McKinney, Celina, and Prosper.
Is it cheaper to live in Texas than California?
Yes, mainly on housing and taxes. A buyer typically saves around $500,000 on a median home and pays no state income tax in Texas. Everyday costs are closer to the national average, so the savings come mostly from housing and tax rather than cheaper goods.
Related
Full Guide Contents
Continue Reading - Basic Plan
The full guide adds the county-by-county California outflow map, the DFW suburb shortlist for Californians by budget, and the remote-rental safety script. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023), Tax Foundation, Hoover Institution, CBRE.
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