Texas
About 77,000 Californians moved to Texas in 2024, the number 1 destination out of California. Texas has no personal income tax.
Home prices in Texas vs. LA
| City | Median sale price | $/sq ft | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical LA County zip | $904K | $588 | n/a |
| San Antonio | $265K | $153 | 64 |
| Houston | $368K | $183 | 41 |
| Dallas | $512K | $262 | 40 |
| Austin | $570K | $316 | 47 |
Redfin Data Center. Cities: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026.
Taxes
Texas has no personal income tax. Texas relies heavily on local property taxes instead, so combined rates are generally well above what long-time California owners pay under Prop 13. Rates depend on the combined local taxing districts for each address, and Texas offers homestead exemptions on a primary residence. Homeowners insurance costs have also been rising in Texas. See the Texas 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 Texas?
About 77,161 people (plus or minus 9,059) moved from California to Texas in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the number 1 destination for people leaving California.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
Texas has no personal income tax. California's top marginal rate is 13.3%. Confirm current rates with the Texas revenue department and a CPA.
What do homes cost in Texas compared with LA?
In the cities we track, median sale prices ran from about $265K in San Antonio to about $570K in Austin (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.