PODS, a moving and storage company, recently released its figures showing which locations across the nation had the most influx of new inhabitants and the lowest emigration.
You could have seen the shipping containers from the company in Clearwater, Florida, parked on driveways around your area. The company has been around since 1998, and it offers movers the chance to load up their belongings into PODS and have them transported to their new homes. These are the California cities where people are leaving in droves.
Los Angeles
According to recent surveys, the high cost of living in Los Angeles is the main reason why most residents have considered leaving the city.
While 37% of homeowners and 26% of those 65 and above have considered leaving the city due to housing costs, 75% of renters and 35% of those under 35 have done the same, according to the 2024 LABC Institute Housing Affordability Survey in Partnership with the Los Angeles Times.
As a whole, 60% of respondents had considered relocating, with 35% actually considering it.
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San Francisco
There are a lot of wonderful things about San Francisco, but it’s not the right place for everyone. Like any large city, San Francisco is hectic and full of people and all the challenges that entails.
Homelessness is a significant problem in San Francisco. Many drug crimes are responsible for this. Fentanyl is a major issue. This is the highest body count ever recorded in San Francisco, at 845.
Roughly seven percent of San Francisco’s population has perished since the pandemic began. The ability to work remotely attracted many people, and they relocated. Those with really high salaries were the ones who departed due to the high taxes.
San Diego
Housing, homelessness, and local job possibilities are becoming concerns for more and more people, according to a new survey from the University of San Diego. Just after US News & World Report revealed that San Diego is the most expensive location to live in the US, this new survey from The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego follows suit.
Stockton-Modesto
Stockton and Modesto are seeing an influx of new residents as a result of environmental, social, and economic concerns. A lot of people are finding it difficult to live reasonably due to the rising cost of living, particularly for housing. Furthermore, individuals have sought employment elsewhere as the local job market hasn’t been able to provide sufficient opportunities.
Additional factors that influence people’s decisions to relocate include worries about crime rates and educational opportunities. Finally, environmental issues worsen matters, leading people to seek for better living conditions elsewhere. Air pollution and water scarcity are two examples of these challenges.
Santa Barbara
The exorbitant expense of living forces many to leave Santa Barbara, despite the fact that it is one of the most picturesque cities in California. But compared to Santa Barbara, Boise has a cost of living that is nearly 68% lower. However, the significant decline in house prices is the true deal-breaker.
Just over $465,000. That’s the average price of a home in Boise. Santa Barbara is known for its exorbitant house prices, which often exceed $1.7 million. The reduced tax rate, which incorporates the 6% sales tax, is another attractive feature of Boise for people relocating from California.
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Fresno
The economic, social, and environmental problems in Fresno are forcing many people to leave the city. Many people are leaving the city in search of better work opportunities because the housing market is getting out of hand and the local job market isn’t providing enough opportunities.
Bakersfield
A large number of Bakersfield citizens have opted to leave the city in recent years due to the several serious problems that the city has been facing. A major worry is related to the current economic situation.
Finding stable, well-paying employment is difficult for many people in the area, so many look for chances elsewhere. As if that weren’t bad enough, many families are also struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, particularly in the property market where prices have outpaced income growth.
So, because of worries about affordability, some locals feel forced to look for more financially viable housing alternatives in other states or cities.
Reference: KTLA