The exodus from California continues, with Gen Z adults increasingly moving to states like Texas.
A new study published this month by Hire A Helper leveraged U.S. Census Bureau data to see where young Americans have been moving and why.
The data shows that the trend of people from states like California and New York heading to Texas has not slowed, with more and more members of Generation Z, or those born between 1996 and 2010, hanging their hats in the Lone Star State. In 2023, approximately 345,000 members of this cohort relocated to the state, making it the top destination for moves in the country.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Texas was a popular destination for Californian millennials between 2018 and 2019, with roughly 50,000 residents of the Golden State in total moving to Texas. Since then, the pace has picked up, with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns accelerating the migration.
However, the Lone Star State has not been the only place Gen Z is setting its sights, with West Virginia logging the highest net gain in new residents from this demographic, up 138% year over year, according to Hire A Helper.
The study also found that Gen Z adults are also the most mobile nowadays. While 17% of Gen Z changed their residence this year, just 8% of Americans across all ages did so.
Miranda Marquit, a spokesperson for Hire A Helper, told Fox News Digital that Gen Z has been responding differently to the pandemic than older generations, who have not displayed the same mobility.
Marquit said, “Gen Z appears ready to venture out on their own. They seem ready to establish their households and families.”
“The evolution of work in recent years, focusing on remote and hybrid arrangements, can allow Gen Z to make decisions based on where they want to live and the lifestyle they prefer,” she added.
In terms of inflow, Austin-Round Rock saw twice as many from Gen Z move in versus out in 2023. Meanwhile, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas saw net increases in such transplants of 26, 25, and 20%, respectively.
The study also gave insight into what motivates Gen Z’s relocation. The number one reason cited for wanting to move is to “establish their own household (16.8%),” followed by wanting a new or better home (12.1%) and a new job opportunity or transfer (11.1%).
