No, this is not about that 20 year old movie starring Kurt Russel. The doomsday the movie predicted in 2013 has come and gone, you would only experience that post apocalyptic despair when you are stuck in notorious and hellish L.A. traffic. But there is still an exodus on-going In L.A., apparently, net migration is about four times higher than the rate of nearby Orange County; in fact, a recent survey found that ¾ of LA renters want to move. So, who’s leaving? Surveys indicate that the largest group of out-migrants are middle-aged adults earning between $100,000 and $200,000 annually.
Why are so many people leaving Los Angeles and California? There are a number of possible reasons:
- California has the highest state income taxes in the country.
- Housing prices are through the roof.
- Traffic is brutal – USA Today claims that Los Angeles has the worst traffic in the world.
- California is consistently ranked as one of the worst states for business in the country, and many major employers have chosen to expand or relocate to other states.
So, where are people moving to?Texas and Arizona, ranked most popular destination to have new start after the escape.
64,756 Californians made the move to Arizona in 2016. Here’s why:
- It’s still within driving distance of southern California, so you can get your Cali fix without too much trouble.
- It’s warm like California, but not humid. Arizona gets fewer than 12 inches of rain and more than 200 days of sun per year, and when it does rain, it usually only lasts 10-20 minutes. There are also cooler spots like Flagstaff and Tucson, where you can enjoy winter sports and other activities.
- The cost of living in Phoenix, Arizona’s largest city, is 40% lower than in Los Angeles. The cost of living is also lower than the national average in all areas except housing and transportation.
- There’s no daylight savings. Say goodbye to changing your clocks twice a year!
- There is no shortage of things to do and places to explore, including the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. If you love hiking, you’ll love Arizona’s range of landscapes, with everything from mountains in the northern part of the state to rich evergreen forests and deserts.
- Like to relax? Take a look at Scottsdale – it’s locally known as the Luxury Relaxation Capital of the USA, with more spas per capita than any other place in the country.
Move, if you don’t want to be stuck in traffic in the rest of your life! Move, if you want better quality of life. Grass might not be greener in Phoenix and Arizona (we are in desert, but also have beautiful desert vegetation), but you can live not just survive.
