Arizona
About 52,000 Californians moved to Arizona in 2024, the number 3 destination out of California. Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026).
Home prices in Arizona vs. LA
| City | Median sale price | $/sq ft | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical LA County zip | $904K | $588 | n/a |
| Phoenix | $468K | $279 | 52 |
| Scottsdale | $933K | $430 | 76 |
Redfin Data Center. Cities: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026.
Taxes
Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Arizona property taxes are calculated on a "Limited Property Value" that can only rise by a set percentage each year, a concept that will feel familiar to Californians used to Prop 13. See the Arizona revenue department for current rules.
Moving out of California generally doesn't take the sale of a California home out of California's tax reach. Our guide to selling your LA home and moving out of state covers withholding at closing, the capital gains exclusion and the questions to bring to a CPA.
Common questions
How many people move from California to Arizona?
About 52,383 people (plus or minus 6,890) moved from California to Arizona in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the number 3 destination for people leaving California.
Does Arizona have a state income tax?
Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). California's top marginal rate is 13.3%. Confirm current rates with the Arizona revenue department and a CPA.
What do homes cost in Arizona compared with LA?
In the cities we track, median sale prices ran from about $468K in Phoenix to about $933K in Scottsdale (Redfin, May 2026), versus about $904K for a typical LA County zip code.
Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 state-to-state migration flows (people who lived in California one year earlier). Estimates have margins of error. Market figures: Redfin Data Center.