You can imagine it, can’t you? Filling up your entire life, leaving behind longtime friends, and driving across the nation to start fresh in a new place you’ve heard whispers about. That’s what my family and I did two years ago when we said goodbye to the sundrenched, bustling coast of California and set off for the great open spaces of Texas. It was a decision that was both thrilling and terrifying going off a cliff with a slim chance of a soft landing. We were chasing an illusion: extra space, a smaller check, and the chance to live a life that wasn’t exactly a marathon, but rather a journey.
Our Big Move: From California to Texas
The catalyst for this change happened one evening over coffee during a latenight discussion with my partner, both of us looking at another watercosting rent check. We’d spent our whole lives in California, with its beaches, silicon valley, and fastpaced environment all surrounding us, yet the way of life was sucking us dry.
The concept of Texas big, brash, and supposedly inexpensive kept entering our minds. Friends thought we were crazy, cautioning us about everything from scorching summers to lacking that California “vibe.” One friend even presented us with a zealous address about how we’d be homesick for the ocean and never be able to leave our house. Her words rang in my ears, planting a tiny seed of doubt that maybe we were doing the wrong thing.But six months into our Texas life, something wonderful happened. That same friend who’d been so skeptical started texting me, asking about our move.
“How’s it really going?” she’d say, her curiosity piqued. The others from our old California crew were doing the same, all of a sudden curious about our “radical” move. What started out as our risk of faith became the reference point for others, starting a conversation about affordability, opportunity, and a lifestyle we didn’t even realize we could love this much.It was as if our move had lit a match, and people were curious how they could catch the same flame.
Why We Left California:
- Prices were choking us in California rent, food, fuel, it all felt like a splurge.
- We longed for space for the children to play and a home that we might actually be able to afford.
- The temptation of a slower, more conscious path was too strong to turn away from.
The Economic Pull: Why Texas Made Sense
The decision to uproot our roots wasn’t a simple one it was a response to a perfect storm of economic pressures Californians are all too familiar with. The Census Bureau chronicled that in 2022, a whopping 102,442 individuals moved from California to Texas, the top statetostate migration in America. We were part of that number, driven by the relentless expense of living in California. It was one of those monthly highwire acts of balancing our finances, with not so much as an inch to spare.The Kinder Institute for Urban Research hit the bull’seye when they recognized “low taxes, affordable homes, and lowregulation living” as key forces behind this migration trend.
Maybe the biggest gameslasher for us was Texas having no state income tax. Here in California, with its top marginal rate of 13.3%, it felt like a portion of every paycheck vanished before we could even dream of saving. In Texas, that weight was lifted from our shoulders. The Tax Foundation estimates that this tax break leaves residents of ours thousands more in their pockets every year dollars we might spend on family vacations, home repairs, or just being able to breathe a little easier.Even now, I remember the first check we got in Texas; it was as if we had won some kind of minilottery, and that extra bit of money made us feel liberated we’d not felt in years.
And then there was the surfacing of the housing market, which in California appeared to be some kind of pipe dream. In 2022, the median California home was $765,000 completely out of reach for most families like ours. In Texas, it was $300,000, which was not only within our means but allowed us to buy a bigger house with a yard where our children could actually play. Selling our little California home funded a big spread in Texas and left us with cash in hand.It was like entering another world where “home” was something more than a word but an institution that we could actually consider home.
Economic Advantages of Texas:
- No state income tax keeps families out of thousands annually.
- Mediancost homes are less than half of California’s, and home ownership is within reach.
- A freeenterprise atmosphere favors job growth and economic security.
A World of Opportunity in the Lone Star State
Beyond the numbers, Texas revealed to us a world of opportunity we had not anticipated. State probusiness policies have placed the state on the map as a destination for companies such as GEICO, which unveiled 500 new jobs in North Texas, and Delta Electronics, expanding its operations in the area.The DallasFort Worth metroplex that we moved to was named the number one real estate market to invest in and build in 2025. There were new companies, cranes for building, and a buzz of potential that was infectious wherever you turned.
The pandemic also made a huge difference with the movement towards remote working. Because my wife was telecommuting, we were no longer tied to California’s ridiculous costs. Dallas gained a net of 10,000 telecommuters and made up 26% of its new residents, and we were part of them. This afforded us the luxury of prioritizing affordability and space, and Texas delivered in spades. We found a house in a community north of Dallas with a big backyard and room for a home office a luxury we could only dream of in California.There is a sense of possibility here that is almost palpable, and it’s not just about the work but about building a life that feels viable.
What surprised us most was how fast we acclimatized. Texas’s diverse culture, blending Mexican, German, and Southern influences, was a delightful discovery. Houston, for example, is a melting pot of international communities, offering everything from authentic tacos to German festivals. The “Southern hospitality” we’d heard about wasn’t just a cliché it was real. Neighbors welcomed us with homemade casseroles, and strangers struck up conversations at the grocery store.That sense of belonging supported our adjustment more than we ever could have dreamed, allowing Texas to be more than a place to live it became home.
Texas Opportunities:
- A booming job market with opportunities in tech, healthcare, and energy.
- Remote work flexibility allows families to appreciate affordability and space.
- Diverse cultural influences lead to a vibrant, openarmed community.
An Outdoor Playground
For us, Texas has been an incredible outdoor playground. We grew up in California and loved the mountains and coastlines, but the vast open spaces of Texas have left us in awe. From Gulf Coast beaches to the rolling hills of the Hill Country, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast. We’ve filled Saturday afternoons hiking along trails, camping under starfilled skies, and paddling down one of Texas’s 7,000 lakes and reservoirs.
Republic Grand Ranch, near Lake Conroe, has become a favorite spot for fishing and boating, with secluded homesites surrounded by nature that feel like a retreat from the world. The space here is a gamechanger. In California, our tiny backyard barely fit a swing set, but in Texas, our kids have room to run, and we’ve even started a small garden. The average Texas home is 2,000 square feet, compared to 1,625 for California, and that extra space has altered our lifestyle. Subdivisions like Pecan Plantation, along the Brazos River, offer homesites on acreage with golf course views, pools, and marinas.
It’s the kind of environment where you can reside in the great outdoors but still have everything you need.Our Saturdays nowadays are exciting, whether they are spent exploring neighborhood parks or yelling at a Texas Rangers game. Warm weather yearround means we are spending more time outside than ever, and the kids have taken a shine to fishing that we never dreamed of. Texas has given us space not just in our home but in our lives too, where we now have the luxury of time and can savor moments we lived in such a hurry in California.
Outdoor Benefits in Texas:
- More than 7,000 lakes and reservoirs for fishing, boating, and water sports.
- Wide open spaces ideal for hiking, camping, and nature exploration.
- Societies such as Pecan Plantation provide amenities in addition to nature.
Encouraging Others to Take Our Route
Six months into our relocation, that friend who was telling us we’d love Texas was eating her words. She looked at our pictures of our new home, heard our stories of affordable living, and experienced the genuine happiness in our voice. Soon, she and others were asking for advice: “How did you find your house? What’s the work situation like there? Are the schools good?
Our move had sent ripples, and soon, a few friends followed by making their own leaps, packing to head to Texas. It was surreal to see our personal decision ignite a mini-migration among our circle of friends. Cindi Bulla, Texas Realtors’ 2020 chair, stated it best: “Texas continues to attract new residents thanks to its economic stability, affordable housing, and high quality of life.” Our experience was living proof of that.The warnings that we were losing California’s charm melted away when friends saw our new calm of mind not stressing over bills or highway traffic anymore.
Now, we were entertaining them with tales of quiet neighborhoods, lake weekend outings, and a lifestyle that was sustainable and fulfilling. Our move wasn’t just about us; it was part of a bigger movement reshaping America. The Census Bureau documented 8.2 million intrastate movers in 2022, with Californians migrating to Texas as their destination of choice. The low outmigration rate in the state implies that once people get here, they are not leaving anywhere.To us, Texas is more than a new address more like a new lifestyle, one that’s caused others to follow and made us grateful that sometimes, yes, the grass really is greener on the other side.
Why Texas Keeps People:
- Low outmigration rate shows citizens remain longterm.
- Reasonable living reduces financial stress, improving quality of life.
- Welcoming community greets newcomers immediately to the fold.
The Larger Context: A Demographic Movement
Our experience is only one strand in a very much larger fabric of transformation sweeping across the United States. The Census Bureau’s 2022 statistics paint a stark picture: 8.2 million residents moved from one state to another, up from 7.9 million in 2021, and Texas was the destination of choice for most of them, but especially Californians.That 102,442 CaliforniantoTexan exodus was not just a statistic it was our families and thousands like us seeking a better future.
California’s population, on the other hand, continued to dwindle, its low inmigration rate of 11.1% failing to keep up with the exodus. Texas’ economic magnetism cannot be disputed. The Texas cost of living is about 30% lower than California, and that represents a $60,000 salary stretching further in Texas than a $100,000 salary in California. Add the absence of state income tax and a median home value less than half California’s, and it’s little wonder folks are flocking to the state. Large businesses like Tesla and Oracle have also joined the exodus, with employment and economic opportunity. The DallasFort Worth metroplex is now home to over 8 million people and an area of opportunity, with 400,000 new jobs in 2023. The exodus is shaping Texas’s population into a younger, more diverse one.
Suburban counties like Montgomery and Fort Bend are booming with growth, gaining 66,367 and 58,039 citizens, respectively, between 2020 and 2022. San Antonio and Fort Worth cities are also seeing high rates of influx, while Houston and Dallas fall somewhat behind.Texas’s ability to attract and retain residents boasting the U.S.’s lowest outmigration rate is a plus, not just for our family, but for the millions already living in this state.
Migration Trends:
- CaliforniatoTexas migration totaled over 102,442 people in 2022.
- Texas’s low outmigration rate makes it the “stickiest” state in the U.S.
- Suburbs are growing faster than cities, offering space and affordability.
