After a year of bad news for middle and lower class—hell, pretty much all—renters and homeowners in Los Angeles, there are yet more sobering statistics courtesy of the US Census Bureau, via the LA Times: according to the Census's state-to-state migration statistics, almost a quarter million more workers left California between 2007 and 2013 than arrived and, of those who left, nearly all of them make less than $50,000 a year. (In fact, some of the upper-income categories actually made relative gains, i.e. more wealthy people moved to California than left.) One of the primary causes is, unsurprisingly, outrageous rents and housing prices. Housing prices have gone up in Los Angeles more than anywhere else in the past 14 years.
The most popular destination for California ex-pats? Texas. According to the most recent data, 66,318 people left California for Texas in 2013, while only 32,290 left Texas for California. Over a five year period, California's net loss to Texas was 82,154 people. (But hey, Texas doesn't only take; she might give us a movie theater and a giant oil refinery in return.)
California's state-to-state migration loss won't mean any housing relief for those who stay, though—the population of California continues to rise thanks to births and international arrivals—and don't expect the arrival of higher-skilled, wealthier residents from out of state to help, either. People who remain in pricey California can cope by nesting with roommates, taking long commutes, or just plain living in poverty.
· 21 Signs That 2014 Was the Year of LA's Rental Apocalypse [Curbed LA]
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