States sending the most people to California
Marek Masik // Shutterstock
States sending the most people to California
Fewer Americans moved in 2022, according to the latest census data, but of those who did, 1 in 5 moved to a different state.
Population growth has returned to pre-pandemic norms; Southern states continued to record influxes in population, while the Northeast saw the biggest drops, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania. These trends largely continued into last year, according to United Van Lines’ annual movers study. States with the most inbound moves in 2023 were Vermont, Washington D.C., South Carolina, and Arkansas, which moved up 14 spots from the year before.
Stacker compiled a list of states sending the most people to California using data from the Census Bureau. States are ranked by the number of people who moved to California from a different state in 2022.
Keep reading to find out which states sent the most people to California.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#25. Indiana
– 5,422 people moved to California from Indiana in 2022, making up 1.14% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #7 most common state for people moving away from Indiana 
Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
#24. Tennessee
– 5,498 people moved to California from Tennessee in 2022, making up 1.16% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #11 most common state for people moving away from Tennessee 
Charles Knowles // Shutterstock
#23. Idaho
– 5,567 people moved to California from Idaho in 2022, making up 1.17% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #4 most common state for people moving away from Idaho 
f11photo // Shutterstock
#22. South Carolina
– 5,581 people moved to California from South Carolina in 2022, making up 1.17% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #8 most common state for people moving away from South Carolina 
TommyBrison // Shutterstock
#21. Missouri
– 6,369 people moved to California from Missouri in 2022, making up 1.34% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #6 most common state for people moving away from Missouri 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#20. Maryland
– 7,903 people moved to California from Maryland in 2022, making up 1.66% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #8 most common state for people moving away from Maryland 
Canva
#19. Ohio
– 10,031 people moved to California from Ohio in 2022, making up 2.11% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #9 most common state for people moving away from Ohio 
Canva
#18. Hawaii
– 10,747 people moved to California from Hawaii in 2022, making up 2.26% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Hawaii 
Canva
#17. Georgia
– 11,002 people moved to California from Georgia in 2022, making up 2.31% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #7 most common state for people moving away from Georgia 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#16. Michigan
– 11,714 people moved to California from Michigan in 2022, making up 2.46% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #6 most common state for people moving away from Michigan 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#15. Utah
– 13,149 people moved to California from Utah in 2022, making up 2.76% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Utah 
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
#14. New Jersey
– 13,162 people moved to California from New Jersey in 2022, making up 2.77% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #4 most common state for people moving away from New Jersey 
Sharkshock // Shutterstock
#13. North Carolina
– 13,302 people moved to California from North Carolina in 2022, making up 2.80% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #6 most common state for people moving away from North Carolina 
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#12. Pennsylvania
– 13,544 people moved to California from Pennsylvania in 2022, making up 2.85% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from Pennsylvania 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#11. Virginia
– 15,373 people moved to California from Virginia in 2022, making up 3.23% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from Virginia 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#10. Massachusetts
– 15,540 people moved to California from Massachusetts in 2022, making up 3.27% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from Massachusetts 
Canva
#9. Colorado
– 19,970 people moved to California from Colorado in 2022, making up 4.20% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #3 most common state for people moving away from Colorado 
randy andy // Shutterstock
#8. Nevada
– 22,183 people moved to California from Nevada in 2022, making up 4.66% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Nevada 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#7. Oregon
– 23,792 people moved to California from Oregon in 2022, making up 5.00% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #2 most common state for people moving away from Oregon 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#6. Illinois
– 24,559 people moved to California from Illinois in 2022, making up 5.16% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from Illinois 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#5. Arizona
– 27,412 people moved to California from Arizona in 2022, making up 5.76% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Arizona 
Mia2you // Shutterstock
#4. Florida
– 28,557 people moved to California from Florida in 2022, making up 6.00% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #4 most common state for people moving away from Florida 
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#3. New York
– 31,255 people moved to California from New York in 2022, making up 6.57% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from New York 
Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock
#2. Washington
– 31,866 people moved to California from Washington in 2022, making up 6.70% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Washington 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#1. Texas
– 42,279 people moved to California from Texas in 2022, making up 8.89% of new residents that moved from another state
— It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Texas
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
