California's population dropped by 500,000 in two years as exodus continues

[Zorro]

The California exodus has shown no sign of slowing down as the state’s population dropped by more than 500,000 people between April 2020 and July 2022, with the number of residents leaving surpassing those moving in by nearly 700,000.

The population decrease was second only to New York, which lost about 15,000 more people than California, census data show.

California has been seeing a decline in population for years, with the COVID-19 pandemic pushing even more people to move to other parts of the country, experts say. The primary reason for the exodus is the state’s high housing costs, but other reasons include the long commutes and the crowds, crime and pollution in the larger urban centers. The increased ability to work remotely — and not having to live near a big city — has also been a factor.

The rate of the exodus may now be slowing as the pandemic’s effects ease, but some experts say it could be a few years before the Golden State starts to record the kind of population growth it has seen in the past.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-15/californias-population-has-dropped-by-more-than-half-a-million-in-about-two-years-why

[Susan Calvin]

1. Good.

Maybe the housing prices will drop some and I can go back.

[DarthDem]

2. Exodus - LOL

It's pretty much the best state in the country politically - MA and IL may have arguments and MI is coming on strong - and those folks will be back or replaced by others.

[GreenWave]

3. Please head to Texas to make it blue!

[mike_c]

4. that would include us

We moved from the North Coast to Arizona when we retired. Still unpacking the boxes. We would have loved to stay, but the cost of living is way lower here in the Phoenix Valley. We simply could not afford long term housing security in California on our retirement income, even in the rural far north.

[The Mouth]

5. We just don't have the water for all the people here!

But if we lost a few million, housing *might* become a bit more affordable.

[Mr.Bill]

7. We have plenty of water for the people.

What we don't have water for is all the food we grow to feed half of the country.

[The Mouth]

11. OK, I stand corrected.

At least partly.

People do use a LOT of water, though. That's what a lot of state leadership in the west never seems to understand; lots of open space, but that doesn't mean you should build on it. Governor Pat Brown was probably the most strident about "BUILD BUILD BUILD".

[YoshidaYui]

6. AND MAYBE the rents will go down

[Scottie Mom]

8. Good -- maybe the morning drive of less than 20 miles into DTLA will drop below 2 hours on the 405.

The 405 Frwy is the largest parking lot in LA County in the hours of 7 - 9 and 5 - 7. It fucking sucks!!!!! I flatly refuse to do work in-house in DTLA. The commute into LA IMO is the biggest reason for the hike in the cost of housing. If you do not live close by or if there is no public transportation, you are going to be in a car for 4 hours a day -- plus 8 in the office or at work. So, any residential property close to DTLA is going to go at a higher price.

The 10 Frwy is not much better and the 60 from the Inland Empire definitely sucks.

I get calls and emails every day to do legal work in DTLA (no remote option) and I flatly refuse. I got two calls like this within the last 24 hours. Most calls are from out of state recruiters and they do not understand why I will not drive into DTLA. I still do some legal on the side...but NEVER in DTLA. And...I get the response..."but it's only 25 miles away!"

[yaesu]

9. Probably mostly because of cost of living, I would love to move there but

Way,way out of my budget.

[BigmanPigman]

10. Good! Lessen the traffic.