Where People Are Moving To In California In 2026
Between 2020 and 2024 California saw a continued shift in where residents are choosing to live. Much of the growth went to more affordable inland communities in the Inland Empire and Central Valley as households left expensive coastal counties. Riverside County led the gains with more than 100,000 new residents while Sacramento, San Joaquin and Placer also grew.
The trend ties back to housing costs. Median home prices in Riverside County have remained near the low-$600,000 range while comparable homes in Los Angeles and Orange counties sell for $900,000 or more. Remote and hybrid work flexibility has helped sustain the shift inland.
Riverside County
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that much of Southern California's population growth has shifted away from Los Angeles and toward more affordable Inland Empire communities, particularly those in Riverside County. Between 2020 and 2024, the county's population increased from roughly 2.42 million residents to nearly 2.53 million, while IRS migration data shows that many inbound residents are relocating from Los Angeles County, Orange County, or San Diego County. Communities like Menifee, Murrieta, and Eastvale have become especially attractive to families seeking larger homes and lower housing costs, as median home prices in many Riverside County communities remain roughly $300,000 lower than comparable homes in coastal Southern California counties.
Several factors continue to drive this trend, including expanding employment at major employers like Walmart and Amazon, which are creating more jobs in the warehousing, logistics, and distribution industries throughout the Inland Empire, as well as the continued rise of remote and hybrid work since the pandemic. Larger communities and new residential construction in cities like Menifee and Murrieta have also helped sustain rapid housing growth. Menifee alone has ranked among California's fastest-growing cities in recent years, with thousands of new homes added as retail centers, schools, and infrastructure continue expanding across southwest Riverside County.
Sacramento County
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Finance show that Sacramento County has continued to attract new residents as more households relocate inland from the Bay Area in search of lower housing costs. The county's population increased from roughly 1.58 million residents in 2020 to more than 1.61 million residents in 2024, while IRS migration data indicates many inbound residents arrived from Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties.
Several factors could be behind this migration trend, including lower housing prices relative to the Bay Area, stable employment opportunities, expanding healthcare access, and continued remote work flexibility. Sacramento County's median home prices have generally remained closer to the mid-$500,000 range, compared to well above $1 million across much of Santa Clara County. Communities such as Elk Grove, Natomas, and Rancho Cordova have remained especially active residential growth areas, with new subdivisions, apartment developments, and mixed-use projects continuing to expand throughout the Sacramento metro region. Major employers, including Sutter Health, UC Davis Health, and the State of California, continue to anchor the local economy, while housing construction and school enrollment growth have accelerated across several suburban communities south and east of downtown Sacramento.
San Joaquin County
Recent Census estimates and IRS migration data show continued population growth throughout San Joaquin County as more Bay Area residents relocate inland in search of affordable housing. The county's population grew from roughly 779,000 residents in 2020 to more than 815,000 in 2024, with many inbound households arriving from Alameda, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa counties. Several factors continue to drive this trend, including lower housing prices relative to the Bay Area, expanding logistics employment, and continued remote work flexibility. Median home prices in San Joaquin County generally remain in the mid-$400,000 to mid-$500,000 range, depending on the city, which is significantly lower than in Bay Area counties where median home values often exceed $1 million.
Communities such as Lathrop, Tracy, Manteca, and Mountain House have become especially active residential growth areas, with new subdivisions and master-planned developments expanding rapidly. Major logistics employers along the I-5 and Highway 99 corridors, including large Amazon fulfillment and distribution centers in Lathrop and Tracy, have contributed to job growth and housing demand. The Port of Stockton continues to serve as a key industrial and shipping hub supporting regional employment, while ongoing housing construction and school enrollment growth in districts such as Manteca Unified reflect continued population inflows tied to suburban expansion.
Placer County
Recent Census estimates show that Placer County has continued to emerge as one of Northern California's strongest suburban growth destinations. The county's population increased from roughly 404,000 residents in 2020 to more than 422,000 residents in 2024, while IRS migration data indicates many inbound residents relocated from Sacramento County and nearby Bay Area counties, particularly Alameda and Santa Clara.
Communities such as Roseville, Rocklin, and Lincoln have remained especially attractive to families and higher-income professionals seeking newer housing developments, strong school districts, and suburban living outside the Bay Area. Median home prices in western Placer County generally remain far lower than those across much of the Bay Area while still offering access to Sacramento-area employment opportunities. Continued remote work flexibility, retail expansion, and healthcare growth throughout western Placer County have all helped sustain the county's rapid residential growth. Areas surrounding the Westfield Galleria at Roseville and newer developments in Lincoln have continued to see commercial expansion, new housing construction, and rising school enrollment as more families relocate to the region.
San Diego County
Recent Census estimates and IRS migration data show that San Diego County has continued to stabilize following population declines earlier in the pandemic. The county's population stood at roughly 3.29 million in 2020 and remained near 3.3 million in 2024, while migration data show continued inflows from both within California and outside the state.
Communities throughout North County San Diego, including Oceanside, Carlsbad, and San Marcos, have remained especially attractive to professionals, retirees, and remote workers seeking coastal access outside the Los Angeles metro area. Continued job growth in biotechnology, healthcare, defense contracting, and military-related industries has helped sustain residential demand despite elevated housing costs. Major employers and institutions, including Qualcomm, Illumina, and the U.S. Navy, continue to anchor the county's economy, particularly in areas tied to research, technology, and defense. New apartment and mixed-use developments throughout North County have also helped sustain housing demand, as residential construction remains active in areas near Oceanside and San Marcos.
Los Angeles County
Recent Census estimates show Los Angeles County's population declined from just over 10 million residents in 2020 to below 9.8 million residents by 2024, representing one of the nation's largest population declines during the post-pandemic period. IRS SOI migration data shows that many outbound households relocated to more inland parts of California, such as Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Orange County, as rising housing costs and limited housing inventory pushed more residents farther east within Southern California.
Even with continued population loss, Los Angeles County remains the state's largest economic center and continues to attract residents through employment opportunities in entertainment, healthcare, technology, international trade, and higher education. Major employers and economic anchors, including the Port of Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and entertainment studios throughout Burbank and Hollywood, continue to support the region's economy. However, median home prices across many parts of Los Angeles County remain near or above $900,000, far higher than prices in inland counties like Riverside and San Bernardino, contributing to continued domestic outmigration despite strong job growth.
Orange County
Recent Census estimates show Orange County's population stood at roughly 3.18 million in 2020 and has remained relatively flat throughout 2024, though IRS migration data indicates continued outbound migration to Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Many households leaving Orange County have remained within Southern California, relocating inland as housing affordability pressures intensified across coastal communities.
Despite slower population growth, Orange County continues to benefit from strong employment opportunities across healthcare, finance, technology, tourism, and other professional services. Communities like Irvine continue to attract higher-income professionals, while new apartment and mixed-use development around Irvine Spectrum and in central Orange County have accelerated amid efforts by local governments to address long-term housing shortages. Major employers, including Blizzard Entertainment, Edwards Lifesciences, and UC Irvine Health, continue to drive employment growth throughout the county, even as median home prices in many Orange County communities remain near or above the $1 million mark.
Fresno County
Recent Census estimates show Fresno County's population grew from roughly 1.01 million residents in 2020 to an estimated 1.04 million residents in 2024, continuing steady long-term growth throughout California's Central Valley. IRS migration data suggests the county is increasingly attracting residents from Los Angeles County and parts of the Bay Area as households seek lower housing prices and a lower overall cost of living.
Median home prices in Fresno County have remained in the mid-$400,000 range, substantially below those in most coastal California housing markets. Many industries have expanded alongside the county's traditional agricultural economy, including healthcare, logistics, education, and distribution, helping support continued residential development in areas like Fresno and Clovis. Major employers like Community Health System and Amazon have contributed to increased job growth, while new housing developments in northeast Fresno and Clovis continue expanding as more residents relocate inland in search of affordable homeownership opportunities.
Where California Population Growth Is Headed Next
Recent data shows that much of California's population growth is increasingly shifting away from expensive coastal housing markets and toward more affordable inland suburban counties, especially those throughout the Inland Empire, Sacramento region, and parts of the Central Valley. Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, and Placer County have continued gaining residents, while several large coastal counties have seen slower growth or population declines in recent years. As remote and hybrid work remain common and housing prices throughout Los Angeles and the Bay Area continue to rise, many residents are choosing communities where they can still access major employment hubs without the cost of living in California's most expensive urban counties. Much of this growth is now concentrated in large suburban developments, expanding logistics corridors, and fast-growing residential communities such as Menifee, Elk Grove, Lathrop, and Roseville. Although California continues to lose some residents to lower-cost states, many households are also relocating within the state itself, favoring inland suburban communities and mid-sized metropolitan areas over increasingly expensive coastal housing markets.
