From Snowy & Cold to Sunshine & Warmth: Moving to CA & Southern States

If you could move anywhere in the country, where would you go? For a surprisingly large number of Americans, the answer to that question is California or a warm southern state. The Census Bureau keeps track of where people are moving to, and where people are moving from.

Phoenix, Orlando, Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas rank among the most desirable destinations. What do all of these cities have in common? Fantastic weather tops the list; the other factor in what’s being called the flight of the Boomers is the longing to live in less-congested urban environments.

The move toward the sunny South may be led by the Boomers, but demographic experts believe it to be indicative of a larger social shift. The price of housing is a top factor people consider when deciding where to live; having work nearby is also very important. Communities that originally developed as relatively affordable housing for people in a specific industry, such as Silicon Valley, now command extremely high prices. As a result, there’s a lot of moving going on within California and neighboring states.

Cities that are losing the greatest number of people include St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. Along with Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, these cities are all known for harsh winters and heavy snowfall. The football may be fantastic, but the shoveling gets old fast. Of course, everyone wants different things: if you’re looking to take advantage of the opportunities created by a dwindling population, including lower real estate costs, a move to the Snow Belt may be in your future.