More people are moving to Texas than any other state in the country. According to U.S. Census data, Texas added more than 6 million people from 2000 to 2010. Overwhelmingly, net domestic migrants are moving to Texas from California, but as Jeff Salamon points out, Californians are not more likely to move to Texas than other inter-state migrants—since the population of California is so large, there are simply more Californians coming in than say, Louisianans or South Dakotans.
Growth is strong across the largest metropolitan areas in Texas, making these large areas highly attractive to migrants from all over the United States. Americans are moving to Texas.
But why are people relocating to Texas from other states?
According to a Fiscal Notes blog on the Texas Comptroller website, “According to the Tax Foundation, Texas has the nation’s fifth-lowest state and local tax burden, and recently Chief Executive Magazine named Texas the ‘Best State for Business’ for the 13th year in a row.” CEOs see Texas as a top location to host their businesses.
In Texas, growth is strong and constant, a security which further boosts our economy.
In addition to strong favor among top executives, Texas has no state income tax—certainly a boon for tax-burdened residents of other states. In their blog, Kevin McPherson and Bruce Wright also add that Texas’ population has been growing at twice the rate of the US for the past century based on decennial census rates, a trend that continues. As they note, “In the 2010-2016 period, Texas led all states in net domestic migration, with nearly 867,000 new residents.”
What is it about Texas that’s so appealing?
McPherson and Wright note that Texas is distinguished for its “natural resources and central location in the country, adjacent to the sea and on a national border,” that “have helped create and sustain competitive advantages in transportation, energy, wholesale and retail trade and more.”
Residents of other states are drawn to Texas for myriad reasons, but most notably because Texas has historically been geographically situated for success, job growth, and friendly income tax policies that have drawn business growth and relocation.
“[By] August 2017, Texas added more jobs (nearly 299,000) than any other state. Recent arrivals include the North American headquarters of Toyota and Kubota Tractor, both formerly based in California. In 2017, Site Selection magazine awarded Texas its Governor’s Cup, citing 642 projects expanding or creating new corporate facilities in the state.”
Relocating to Austin or Relocating to San Antonio
According to a report released by the Texas Association of Realtors, Bexar County comes in at #2 for the largest inflow of people from out-of-state, followed by Travis County at #6. First on the list (by a whopping margin) is Harris County, which boasts Houston. Relocating to Austin or San Antonio is popular for many types of people, but the breakdown by city is particularly interesting:
Among out-of-state migrants to Austin – Round Rock metropolitan area, the largest demographics (in order of magnitude) were from the metro areas of Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Phoenix.
For the San Antonio metropolitan area, out-of-state migrants hailed from the metro areas of Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Chicago, and lastly New York City.
This data reflects many things, but most notably, it shows the connection of these large Texas metropolises to many of the largest and economically robust cities in America.
The flow between these cities show the clout that both Austin and San Antonio hold for job seekers relocating to Central Texas.
Strong job growth, low unemployment, a favorable tax climate, the influx of new headquarters, including perhaps the second Amazon headquarters in Austin. All this without mentioning the great culture, food scene, and natural attractions of Central Texas. From beautiful State Parks for family camping to a host of world-class museums, to a thriving food truck scene with every kind of cuisine imaginable, Central Texas is a family-friendly place to live.
Relocating to Austin or San Antonio has never been more appealing! Are you looking to relocate to Central Texas? If so, reach out to a JB Goodwin agent today. We’re here to help answer your questions, locate fantastic properties, and work with you to find the best choice for you in Central Texas. Reach out today!
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