When so many headlines focus on people leaving the Golden State, planning a move to California can feel complicated. More people choose an interstate move out of California than move into it every year, and our data here at National Van Lines supports that. Popular destinations include Texas, Washington State and Florida.
But our data also shows that California was a top destination state last year, so how is this possible? Here’s what the data shows about who is actually moving to California right now, and why they’re making that choice.
In brief, people are actively moving back to California. Even though more people have been leaving California than moving in during recent years, the state remains a top inbound destination for thousands of households annually. Career opportunities, family ties, tech sector developments and lifestyle preferences continue to drive moves into the state.
California Is Still a Top Destination State
When people talk about the state of California and moving, the focus is often on those leaving the state. According to The Public Policy Institute of California, the biggest reasons for leaving are housing costs and the ability to work remotely from somewhere with a lower cost of living, and National Van Lines’ own internal data demonstrates this trend. In fact, in 2025 California was the top place that people left for a new state.
However, this is only part of the picture. Our 2025 data also shows that California ranked third among all destination states for National Van Lines, trailing only Florida and Texas. That’s a steady stream of people moving long distance to relocate to the state, even while most of the conversation still focuses on people leaving.
Is California’s Population Growing?
California’s population is indeed growing again. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that California’s population grew by 233,000 people between 2023 and 2024, reaching 39.4 million. That is real growth, and it comes after several years of population loss, where the state was better known for losing residents than gaining them.
This number tells a story that expands beyond the subject of trends in nationwide moving. Population growth reflects births, deaths, and people arriving from other countries, alongside domestic moves. The Census Bureau pointed to international migration as the biggest driver behind the nation’s recent growth. Even so, the takeaway is that California is genuinely growing again, with enough pull nationally and globally to keep adding residents.
Why People Move to California Despite the Cost of Living
The cost of housing is the most common reason people leave California, though plenty of people find good reasons to move there anyway, including the following.
- Career Opportunities – Specialized roles in tech, entertainment, biotech and green energy continue to pull talent back to major hubs like San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles.
- Family and Personal Support Systems – Many who moved out during remote-work expansions are returning to be closer to family networks and established communities.
- Quality of Living and Climate – For many of those moving back, California’s weather, geography and cultural amenities outweigh the cost-of-living adjustments.
For many families, choosing where to live matters just as much as deciding whether or not to move. Comparing affordable places in California can help you narrow down the search before planning the details of your relocation.
What National Van Lines Sees in California Moves
“We coordinate moves into California most weeks, and the reasons are rarely just one thing,” said Aaron Bacon, Director of Sales Development at National Van Lines “It’s a new job, it’s family, sometimes it’s someone who’s ready for a change and California is where they want to be. We’ve been coordinating long distance moves long enough to know this demand doesn’t go away, even with everything you hear about people leaving the state.”
Aaron’s observation lines up with the data. National Van Lines continues to coordinate moves into California, even though these inbound moves remain smaller in number than outbound moves leaving the state.
What This Means if You’re Planning a Move to California
If you are moving to California, you’re joining many other homeowners who have made the same choice in recent years, and that can be good news for you. Because people continue moving into California, experienced moving teams are quite familiar with the planning, timelines and support that these relocations require.
Working with experienced state to state movers can also help you understand common relocation questions, busy housing markets, and typical delivery windows before moving day.
How National Van Lines Handles Long Distance Moves to California
National Van Lines has coordinated moves in and out of California since 1929. Every California move is planned around the details that affect timing, routing, packing and delivery, so customers know what to expect well before moving day.
As an employee-owned moving company, National Van Lines keeps coordinators accountable for getting those details right. From the first quote to the final delivery, the goal is to make a long distance move to California feel manageable and stress-free.
Plan Your Move to California With National Van Lines
While California’s outbound moving numbers get most of the attention, the inbound moves tell a story too. In fact, National Van Lines continues to see a steady stream of people choosing California as their next home, for reasons ranging from a job pulling them back, to simply deciding it’s still the right place to be.
Get a free personalized long distance moving quote from National Van Lines, or call 800-323-1962 and let an experienced coordinator help you plan every detail of your move.