SmartAsset examined the latest IRS data to better understand where transplants to Texas are coming from and which states are attracting the most Texans.
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Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP
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While 615,000 people from the other 49 other states moved to Texas between 2021 and 2022, just over 441,000 Texans left. This change in population can affect the Lone Star state in different ways. Such population shifts have the potential to alter local dynamics in the job market, housing market, small business demand, and even elections.
With this in mind, SmartAsset examined the latest IRS data to better understand where transplants to Texas are coming from and which states are attracting the most Texans.
Key Findings
Texas gained the most people—and money—from California. The Lone Star state saw the biggest influx from California, with the wealthiest transplants. Making up 54,136 households, 106,882 Californians came to Texas. These households brought an average of $145,960 in AGI with them. At the same time, California was the most popular destination for Texans to move to, with 23,316 households heading there.
Florida had the second-biggest exchange of households with Texas. Florida and Texas had a nearly equal exchange of households but with an unequal wealth exchange: 22,277 Floridian households coming to Texas (38,873 people) and 21,221 households leaving for Florida (37,777 people). Those leaving for Florida earned an average AGI of $114,175, while those coming in made $80,633.
Louisiana added a net of 6,677 households to Texas. A total of 16,310 households moved in from Louisiana, third-most studywide. But relatively few Texas households relocated to Louisiana, placing Louisiana second only to California in terms of net household gains for Texas. However, Louisianans coming into Texas had the second lowest household AGI of transplants at $53,039 (those from Mississippi had the lowest average AGI at $49,178).
Texas gained two residents from New York for every one that left for the Empire State. 24,451 people among 13,947 households came to Texas from New York, with an average household AGI of $109,467. In the same year, 12,180 people left Texas for New York, or 8,094 households with an average AGI of $121,133. This yielded the third highest place of origin for net new households moving to Texas.
The richest people leaving Texas are going to Massachusetts. The average adjusted gross income for people leaving for The Bay State is $130,501. A total of 3,054 households moved to Massachusetts from Texas, while 4,594 made the reverse move. Households coming from Massachusetts had an average AGI of $113,000.
Top 10 States People Are Moving to Texas From
SmartAsset
California
Households moved into Texas: 54,136
Individuals moved into Texas: 106,882
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $145,960
Households that left Texas for California: 23,316
Individuals that left Texas for California: 39,032
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $106,197
Net households moved into Texas: 30,820
Net individuals moved into Texas: 67,850
2. Florida
Households moved into Texas: 22,277
Individuals moved into Texas: 38,873
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $80,633
Households that left Texas for Florida: 21,221
Individuals that left Texas for Florida: 37,777
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $114,175
Net households moved into Texas: 1,056
Net individuals moved into Texas: 1,096
3. Louisiana
Households moved into Texas: 16,310
Individuals moved into Texas: 30,399
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $53,039
Households that left Texas for Louisiana: 9,633
Individuals that left Texas for Louisiana: 18,095
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $57,912
Net households moved into Texas: 6,677
Net individuals moved into Texas: 12,304
4. New York
Households moved into Texas: 13,947
Individuals moved into Texas: 24,451
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $109,468
Households that left Texas for New York: 8,094
Individuals that left Texas for New York: 12,180
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $121,133
Net households moved into Texas: 5,853
Net individuals moved into Texas: 12,271
5. Colorado
Households moved into Texas: 13,576
Individuals moved into Texas: 25,101
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $85,126
Households that left Texas for Colorado: 14,499
Individuals that left Texas for Colorado: 25,224
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $100,046
Net households moved into Texas: -923
Net individuals moved into Texas: -123
6. Illinois
Households moved into Texas: 13,495
Individuals moved into Texas: 25,045
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $119,551
Households that left Texas for Illinois: 7,486
Individuals that left Texas for Illinois: 12,786
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $81,239
Net households moved into Texas: 6,009
Net individuals moved into Texas: 12,259
7. Washington
Households moved into Texas: 11,775
Individuals moved into Texas: 24,308
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $121,996
Households that left Texas for Washington: 8,801
Individuals that left Texas for Washington: 15,167
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $99,092
Net households moved into Texas: 2,974
Net individuals moved into Texas: 9,141
8. Arizona
Households moved into Texas: 10,929
Individuals moved into Texas: 20,474
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $99,204
Households that left Texas for Arizona: 8,008
Individuals that left Texas for Arizona: 14,401
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $90,485
Net households moved into Texas: 2,921
Net individuals moved into Texas: 6,073
9. Georgia
Households moved into Texas: 10,270
Individuals moved into Texas: 18,960
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $74,761
Households that left Texas for Georgia: 9,328
Individuals that left Texas for Georgia: 17,714
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $77,957
Net households moved into Texas: 942
Net individuals moved into Texas: 1,246
10. Oklahoma
Households moved into Texas: 10,188
Individuals moved into Texas: 18,770
Average AGI of households moved into Texas: $67,048
Households that left Texas for Oklahoma: 11,557
Individuals that left Texas for Oklahoma: 22,323
Average AGI of households that left Texas: $68,496
Net households moved into Texas: -1,369
Net individuals moved into Texas: -3,553
Data and Methodology
SmartAsset examined the latest IRS data, which comes from the 2021 and 2022 tax years, to determine the number of individuals and households moving to and from Texas, and coming from and going to within the U.S., as well as the average adjusted gross income they bring with them.
