They’re coming in steady waves — about 262 Californians a day, according to the latest migration data — and more than a few are choosing Fort Worth as their first stop in Texas.
In a single year, more than 2,100 people moved from Los Angeles County to Tarrant County. All told, nearly 7,000 Californians relocated to the Fort Worth area — part of a broader exodus that saw California lose nearly 683,000 residents and Texas gain close to 100,000 of them. That’s the equivalent of the entire population of Santa Barbara picking up and heading east.
More than a year ago, Fort Worth Magazine captured the front edge of this trend in a feature titled “Where the West (Coast) Begins.” The piece tracked how Fort Worth, long considered Texas’s most under-the-radar big city, was quietly becoming a magnet for West Coast professionals fleeing the high cost of living and competitive urban gridlock of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond. What was once an emerging pattern has now become a statistical certainty: Fort Worth is one of the top destinations for Californians starting over in Texas.
The appeal? Homes in Tarrant County cost 62% less than in Los Angeles. Rents are 24% lower, making Fort Worth far more accessible for first-time homebuyers, young renters, and families looking for long-term stability. According to recent analysis by StorageCafe, the average income for newcomers in Tarrant County is $73,200, and roughly one-third of them hold at least a bachelor’s degree. What’s more, 27% of these new arrivals work remotely, bringing their paychecks — but not their offices — with them.
The migration figures come from a detailed breakdown of Census Bureau data, specifically the American Community Survey’s 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample. Researchers ranked 30 of the most popular California-to-Texas migration routes by volume, then compared differences in home prices, rents, income, education, and employment status. Additional data from Zillow and real estate intelligence firm Yardi Matrix helped illustrate how the boom is affecting housing markets — and even self-storage demand — across the state.
That demand is real. Tarrant County home prices have surged 130% since 2015, outpacing even neighboring Dallas County. The rise may still feel like a bargain to a Silicon Valley transplant, but it represents a serious shift for locals who’ve watched affordability recede from longtime working-class neighborhoods.
To help manage the growth, the region’s rental and self-storage markets are stepping in. Fort Worth averages $105 a month for self-storage, with about 6.5 square feet of space per capita — enough to provide a stopgap for those still navigating the transition from temporary housing to permanent roots. The city is also part of a larger multifamily boom across North Texas, as developers work to meet demand across income levels.
Most of the people making the move are millennials, who account for more than 30% of all California-to-Texas relocations. Gen Zers and Gen Xers follow close behind. While the younger crowd often arrives with remote jobs and urban sensibilities, retirees from California are also finding their way to Fort Worth, drawn by the lack of a state income tax, lower healthcare costs, and more predictable property expenses. Baby boomers, according to the same data, tend to earn less than the national average — not because they’re struggling, but because many are exiting the workforce and seeking a softer financial landing.
Not all the benefits are one-sided. Transplants often arrive with higher-than-average earning potential and educational attainment — traits that tend to support long-term economic growth. Still, the influx is not without cultural tension. As Fort Worth Magazine noted last year, the question isn’t just how many Californians are moving in — it’s what kind of city Fort Worth becomes as a result.
One thing is certain: the migration pipeline isn’t slowing down. And for thousands of Californians, the Texas story now begins in Fort Worth.