About 82,481 people moved from California to Texas in 2022–23, per IRS data. Most went to Dallas, Houston and Austin, which took 63% of those households. A Los Angeles median home ($999,652) compares with medians of $663,108 in Dallas, $450,723 in Houston, $507,528 in Austin.
Data verified October 11, 2026. Reviewed by Chris Harris, REALTOR® (Real Broker, LLC). Chris connects movers with licensed agents in their destination market.
California-to-Texas is the single largest state-to-state migration flow in the US (IRS, 2022–23: 44,417 households). The primary drivers are well-documented: no Texas state income tax (vs California's up to 13.3%), home prices that are 30–50% lower in comparable markets, and a business environment that has attracted major corporate relocations. The trade-offs — higher property taxes, summer heat, and different urban density — are real and worth understanding before you commit to a specific city.
Where California movers go in Texas
| Destination metro | Households | People |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 12,574 | 23,532 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,381 | 15,913 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 7,126 | 11,932 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 3,983 | 7,697 |
| El Paso, TX | 1,223 | 2,349 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 764 | 1,473 |
The metros below are the ones that receive the most California movers and have enough neighborhood sales data to price. Each section compares them with Los Angeles, California’s largest metro and its biggest source of movers. Other destinations in the data: San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (3,983 households); El Paso, TX (1,223 households); Killeen-Temple, TX (764 households). We do not have enough neighborhood sales data there to price them yet.
Source: IRS SOI U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–2023; state total from state-to-state outflows, metros from county-to-county outflows (pairs under 20 returns suppressed, so metro figures are a floor).
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Dallas, TX: about 23,532 people from California
The IRS counts 12,574 households (23,532 people) moving from California into the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro in 2022–23, 28% of everyone who left California for Texas.
What a Los Angeles budget buys in Dallas
A typical Los Angeles home sells for $999,652; the Dallas median is $663,108. Selling at one median and buying at the other leaves about $336,544 before closing and moving costs. Spend the full $999,652 instead and 30 of the 35 Dallas neighborhoods we track with at least 5 recent sales have a median at or below it. The closest to that budget: Windsong Ranch ($859,000), East Dallas ($810,223), Westhollow ($797,223), Twin Creeks ($736,272). At 10% down and 7%, a $663,108 Dallas home runs about $5,562 a month with taxes and insurance, against about $7,552 for a $999,652 Los Angeles home.
Neighborhoods closest to the Dallas median:
| Neighborhood | Median sale price | Homes sold (3 mo.) |
|---|---|---|
| Las Colinas | $649,774 | 99 |
| Stonebridge Ranch | $626,782 | 157 |
| Far North Dallas | $624,783 | 392 |
For the lowest entry price, the most affordable well-sampled Dallas neighborhoods are Pleasant Grove ($238,417), South Dallas ($249,813), South Central Dallas ($254,911).
Prices: Los Angeles Zillow Home Value Index 2025; Dallas Redfin, Jan–Jun 2026. Neighborhood medians and sale counts: Redfin rolling three-month windows, Jan–Jun 2026; neighborhoods with fewer than 5 sales are left out.
Taxes: Los Angeles vs Dallas
| Los Angeles, CA | Dallas, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 1%–13.3% (graduated; 13.3% top rate) | 0% (no state income tax) |
| Effective property tax | 0.66% | 1.66% |
| Property tax on the median home, per year | $6,598 | $11,008 |
On each city’s median home, property tax works out to about $6,598 a year in Los Angeles and $11,008 in Dallas. Dallas’s rate is higher, so the tax bill shrinks less than the price does.
Income tax: Tax Foundation 2024 state rates. Property tax: Census American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates, median taxes paid divided by median home value, city level.
Dallas neighborhoods to start with
Matched to Los Angeles: the lifestyle tags most common among Los Angeles neighborhoods in our data are suburban, upscale, family. The Dallas neighborhoods that share them most are Pleasant Grove ($238,417), Prestonwood ($534,814), Lake Highlands ($619,285).
| Neighborhood | Median | Sales (3 mo.) | School rating | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Grove | $238,417 | 70 | – | family, suburban |
| Southeast Dallas | $259,910 | 229 | – | up-and-coming, mixed |
| Central Farmers Branch | $387,450 | 75 | – | urban, walkable |
| Westridge | $453,342 | 72 | – | trendy, walkable |
| Prestonwood | $534,814 | 67 | – | family, suburban |
| Stonebridge Ranch | $626,782 | 157 | – | rural, quiet |
| Windsong Ranch | $859,000 | 60 | – | upscale, gated |
| Park Cities | $2,564,108 | 97 | – | ultra-luxury, executive |
Dallas’s citywide crime grade is D (FBI UCR 2025); the FBI does not publish it by neighborhood. School ratings appear only where one is on file. See every Dallas neighborhood on the Dallas neighborhoods page.
Houston, TX: about 15,913 people from California
The IRS counts 8,381 households (15,913 people) moving from California into the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro in 2022–23, 19% of everyone who left California for Texas.
What a Los Angeles budget buys in Houston
A typical Los Angeles home sells for $999,652; the Houston median is $450,723. Selling at one median and buying at the other leaves about $548,929 before closing and moving costs. Spend the full $999,652 instead and 36 of the 36 Houston neighborhoods we track with at least 5 recent sales have a median at or below it. The closest to that budget: Memorial ($947,170), Greater Heights ($724,498), Spring Branch East ($687,761), Inner Loop ($649,774). At 10% down and 7%, a $450,723 Houston home runs about $3,750 a month with taxes and insurance, against about $7,552 for a $999,652 Los Angeles home.
Neighborhoods closest to the Houston median:
| Neighborhood | Median sale price | Homes sold (3 mo.) |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Houston | $459,840 | 467 |
| Bridgeland | $469,737 | 298 |
| Alden Bridge | $486,031 | 113 |
For the lowest entry price, the most affordable well-sampled Houston neighborhoods are Alief ($197,000), Northeast Houston ($224,922), Southeast Houston ($244,915).
Prices: Los Angeles Zillow Home Value Index 2025; Houston Redfin, Jan–Jun 2026. Neighborhood medians and sale counts: Redfin rolling three-month windows, Jan–Jun 2026; neighborhoods with fewer than 5 sales are left out.
Taxes: Los Angeles vs Houston
| Los Angeles, CA | Houston, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 1%–13.3% (graduated; 13.3% top rate) | 0% (no state income tax) |
| Effective property tax | 0.66% | 1.58% |
| Property tax on the median home, per year | $6,598 | $7,121 |
On each city’s median home, property tax works out to about $6,598 a year in Los Angeles and $7,121 in Houston. Houston’s rate is higher, so the tax bill shrinks less than the price does.
Income tax: Tax Foundation 2024 state rates. Property tax: Census American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates, median taxes paid divided by median home value, city level.
Houston neighborhoods to start with
Matched to Los Angeles: the lifestyle tags most common among Los Angeles neighborhoods in our data are suburban, upscale, family. The Houston neighborhoods that share them most are North Houston ($354,877), Woodforest ($494,828), Briar Forest ($498,826).
| Neighborhood | Median | Sales (3 mo.) | School rating | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alief | $197,000 | 130 | – | up-and-coming, mixed |
| Southwest Houston | $281,877 | 462 | – | up-and-coming, mixed |
| Acres Home | $338,882 | 154 | – | urban, mixed |
| South Central Houston | $384,866 | 204 | – | urban, walkable |
| Alden Bridge | $486,031 | 113 | – | trendy, walkable |
| Washington Avenue-Memorial Park | $517,450 | 208 | – | family, suburban |
| Inner Loop West | $619,784 | 1337 | – | urban, walkable |
| Memorial | $947,170 | 221 | – | upscale, gated |
Houston’s citywide crime grade is F (FBI UCR 2025); the FBI does not publish it by neighborhood. School ratings appear only where one is on file. See every Houston neighborhood on the Houston neighborhoods page.
Austin, TX: about 11,932 people from California
The IRS counts 7,126 households (11,932 people) moving from California into the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro in 2022–23, 16% of everyone who left California for Texas.
What a Los Angeles budget buys in Austin
A typical Los Angeles home sells for $999,652; the Austin median is $507,528. Selling at one median and buying at the other leaves about $492,124 before closing and moving costs. Spend the full $999,652 instead and 31 of the 31 Austin neighborhoods we track with at least 5 recent sales have a median at or below it. The closest to that budget: South Congress ($898,637), Circle C South ($874,696), South Lamar ($787,226), South Lawn ($787,226). At 10% down and 7%, a $507,528 Austin home runs about $4,198 a month with taxes and insurance, against about $7,552 for a $999,652 Los Angeles home.
Neighborhoods closest to the Austin median:
| Neighborhood | Median sale price | Homes sold (3 mo.) |
|---|---|---|
| East MLK | $494,828 | 65 |
| Southwest Austin | $494,323 | 416 |
| McNeil | $490,829 | 88 |
For the lowest entry price, the most affordable well-sampled Austin neighborhoods are Mid-Town Community ($293,398), Creekway West District ($308,893), Central Austin ($309,392).
Prices: Los Angeles Zillow Home Value Index 2025; Austin Redfin, Jan–Jun 2026. Neighborhood medians and sale counts: Redfin rolling three-month windows, Jan–Jun 2026; neighborhoods with fewer than 5 sales are left out.
Taxes: Los Angeles vs Austin
| Los Angeles, CA | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 1%–13.3% (graduated; 13.3% top rate) | 0% (no state income tax) |
| Effective property tax | 0.66% | 1.52% |
| Property tax on the median home, per year | $6,598 | $7,714 |
On each city’s median home, property tax works out to about $6,598 a year in Los Angeles and $7,714 in Austin. Austin’s rate is higher, so the tax bill shrinks less than the price does.
Income tax: Tax Foundation 2024 state rates. Property tax: Census American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates, median taxes paid divided by median home value, city level.
Austin neighborhoods to start with
Matched to Los Angeles: the lifestyle tags most common among Los Angeles neighborhoods in our data are suburban, upscale, family. The Austin neighborhoods that share them most are Gracy Woods ($444,845), Garrison Park ($454,342), Creekway West District ($308,893).
| Neighborhood | Median | Sales (3 mo.) | School rating | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Town Community | $293,398 | 64 | – | up-and-coming, mixed |
| Tech Ridge | $350,500 | 48 | – | trendy, walkable |
| Bluff Springs | $400,000 | 143 | – | trendy, walkable |
| Garrison Park | $454,342 | 49 | – | family, suburban |
| East Austin | $528,816 | 391 | 6/10 | up-and-coming, trendy |
| Crestview-Wooten | $599,791 | 46 | – | walkable, mixed |
| Oak Hill | $632,280 | 99 | – | trendy, walkable |
| South Congress | $898,637 | 64 | – | upscale, gated |
Austin’s citywide crime grade is C (FBI UCR 2025); the FBI does not publish it by neighborhood. School ratings appear only where one is on file. See every Austin neighborhood on the Austin neighborhoods page.
Frequently asked questions
Get matched with an agent where you are moving
Tell us who you are and Chris Harris will connect you with a licensed local agent who knows the neighborhoods above. Free, no obligation.
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Sources. Migration: IRS SOI 2022–2023. Home prices: market medians (Redfin Jan–Jun 2026; Zillow ZHVI 2025 for Los Angeles where noted). Property tax: Census ACS 2023. Income tax: Tax Foundation 2024. Crime: FBI UCR 2025. Verified October 11, 2026.