A booming tech scene and vibrant culture have transformed Austin into a magnet for newcomers. People from all corners of the country, from the West Coast to the East Coast, are packing up and heading for the Texas capital.
Where do people move to Austin from? The answer spans far and wide, reflecting a mosaic of origins that shape the city’s fast-growing community. This overview dives into the top places sending new residents to Austin, backed by data and trends, to paint a clearer picture of Austin’s ever-expanding popularity.
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In-State Movers
Austin isn’t just attracting folks from far away. Many new Austinites hail from right here in Texas. In fact, about half of Austin’s domestic newcomers arrive from other parts of the Lone Star State. People across Texas are drawn to the capital’s booming job market, renowned music scene, and high quality of life. From big cities to smaller towns, Texans are on the move to Austin in significant numbers.
According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth lead the pack as top feeder metros, each sending thousands more people to Austin than they receive in return. Other Texas cities aren’t far behind.
Even the state’s smaller metros contribute to Austin’s influx, underscoring Austin’s role as a statewide hub of opportunity. The trend reveals that Austinites often start as Texans from elsewhere, relocating a few hours down the highway for a slice of what Austin offers.
- Houston: Texas’s largest city supplies a steady stream of new residents to Austin. Each year, Austin gains a net 5,000 or more people from Houston as Houstonians swap the Bayou City for the Silicon Hills.
- Dallas-Fort Worth: The DFW metroplex also contributes heavily, with nearly 4,900 more people moving from Dallas-Fort Worth to Austin annually than vice versa. Many are lured by Austin’s thriving tech sector and laid-back vibe compared to Dallas’s corporate bustle.
- San Antonio: Just down I-35, San Antonio sends many newcomers as well. The short distance makes Austin an attractive next stop for those seeking new jobs or lifestyle changes while staying in Central Texas.
All told, Texans relocating within Texas form the backbone of Austin’s growth. The familiar culture and proximity make it easy for people from cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio to call Austin home.
This homegrown migration means that as Austin grows, it retains a distinctly Texan character even as it welcomes residents from further afield.
Californians Flocking to Austin
Another major source of Austin’s newcomers is California. The migration from the Golden State to Texas has been well documented, and Austin is a prime destination.
In 2023, over 11% of Austin’s domestic in-movers came from California, a testament to the powerful pull of more affordable living and booming job prospects in Texas’s capital. Californians, from tech workers leaving Silicon Valley to creatives departing Los Angeles, have increasingly set their sights on Austin.
High home prices and taxes on the West Coast have pushed many Californians to seek a fresh start in Austin’s comparatively affordable housing market. At the same time, Austin’s growing tech scene has attracted talent from California’s tech hubs. Los Angeles is the single largest out-of-state city sending people to Austin, with a net inflow of roughly 3,300 Angelenos per year.
The San Francisco Bay Area isn’t far behind. San Francisco and San Jose each send around 2,100 net migrants to Austin annually. This influx accelerated during the pandemic, when remote work enabled Californians to relocate while keeping West Coast jobs, though it continues even as offices reopen.
- Los Angeles, CA: L.A. leads the West Coast wave to Austin. Thousands of former Angelenos have moved to Austin, bringing a bit of Hollywood and surf-city vibe to Texas.
- San Francisco Bay Area: Tech professionals from San Francisco and San Jose are a big part of Austin’s tech boom. The Bay Area contributes over 2,000 net new Austinites each year as startups and giants alike expand in Austin.
Californians moving to Austin have made a noticeable impact, fueling growth in industries from tech to entertainment. They bring fresh perspectives and innovation, melding with local culture.
While the Californian influx once raised Austin’s housing demand, it has also solidified the city’s reputation as a cosmopolitan destination. Despite some recent slowing of this migration, the California-to-Austin pipeline remains a defining factor in Austin’s population story.
East Coast and Midwest Transplants
It’s not just Texans and Californians making their way to Austin. Many newcomers hail from the East Coast and Midwest. New York has emerged as a notable contributor. Around 3% of Austin’s inbound movers come from New York, and the New York City metro sends roughly 2,000 or more people net to Austin each year.
Tired of harsh winters or sky-high rents, some New Yorkers are trading the Empire State for the Lone Star State. Likewise, Midwestern cities like Chicago have added to Austin’s population as professionals seek warmer weather and a dynamic tech scene.
The East Coast to Austin trend picked up during the pandemic, when remote workers from finance and media hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. sought more space and sun. Even as things normalize, Austin continues to lure a segment of East Coasters.
From the Midwest, Chicago has been a steady feeder to Austin, with Illinois contributing over 1,100 net migrants annually.
- New York City: Former New Yorkers are increasingly visible in Austin. Many cite the appeal of a lower cost of living and warm climate after leaving NYC’s hustle. You can find Brooklyn-born entrepreneurs and creatives thriving in Austin’s eclectic environment.
- Chicago (Illinois): The Windy City’s loss is Austin’s gain. Illinois sends roughly 1,161 net new residents to Austin each year. Chicagoans bring Midwestern friendliness and are often seeking Austin’s tech jobs or entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Washington, D.C.: From the nation’s capital to Texas’s capital, the D.C. area has its own trickle of migrants to Austin, drawn by the booming private sector. Government policy experts and military personnel alike have found new opportunities in Austin’s growing industries.
Transplants from the East Coast and Midwest add another layer to Austin’s diversity. They infuse the city with new ideas, whether it’s a New Yorker opening a food truck or a Chicagoan joining a tech startup. This coast-to-coast migration underscores Austin’s broad appeal, as people who might once have only considered America’s biggest metros are now choosing Austin as their city of choice.
More States on the Move
Beyond the big three of Texas, California, and New York, a wide range of other states are sending people to Austin. Florida and Washington State stand out among these, each accounting for a meaningful portion of recent newcomers.
States in the heartland and the Mountain West are in the mix too. Migration reports show people moving from Colorado’s Front Range and Arizona into Austin as well. Austin’s newcomers truly come from all over the U.S., not just the traditional coastal hubs.
- Florida: The Sunshine State is a significant source of new Austinites. Floridian newcomers often cite jobs and lifestyle as reasons for relocating, contributing to Austin’s growth even as Texans migrate the other direction.
- Washington State: Many Seattle-area residents are trading the Pacific Northwest for Texas. Washington contributes over 1,100 net migrants to Austin yearly, bringing tech expertise and coffee culture to the heart of Texas.
- Other Notables: A mix of other states each send hundreds of people to Austin. New Jersey and Maryland on the East Coast, Ohio and North Carolina in the Midwest and South, and even Hawaii have all supplied a growing number of new residents to Austin in recent years.
Casting a wide net, Austin attracts talent and families from virtually every corner of the country. From Florida’s beaches to Washington’s forests, people are uprooting and choosing Austin as their new home. This melting pot of newcomers enriches Austin’s culture, ensuring the city’s growth is fueled by a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.
Austin’s Ever-Growing Mosaic
Each influx of new residents adds to the rich tapestry of Austin. The city’s growth is truly a national story, fueled by Texans coming from other cities, Californians seeking opportunity, East Coasters and Midwesterners looking for a change, and many others in between.
Even as migration rates ebb and flow with economic conditions, Austin remains a top destination for those in search of a vibrant community and opportunity. The result is an ever-growing mosaic of people in Austin, a city continually shaped by the places its residents come from and made all the more dynamic because of it.
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