More people actually moved out of Florida than New York or California in 2021
bloodua/iStock/Getty Images Plus
- While out-of-staters were flocking into Florida in 2021, 674,740 residents moved out.
- That's more than the total number of people that left California or New York that year.
- Those who moved out previously told Insider the state had become too unaffordable and crowded.
During the pandemic, sunny Florida was a hotspot for movers looking for beautiful weather year-round and lax pandemic restrictions.
But while newcomers were hoping to get a piece of paradise, Floridians were moving out, newly released census data shows.
An estimated 674,740 people reported their permanent address changed in 2021 from Florida to another state, according to the data. That's more than any other state, including New York or California, two states have gotten the most attention for outbound migration during the pandemic. The dataset, which was released in June, tracked state-to-state migration through responses to the American Community Survey that year.
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Insider previously reported that Floridians were moving out because of extreme heat and the rising cost of living — driven in-part by new residents coming in.
"Anytime you have a lot of newcomers in an area, it takes time for the market to adjust," Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale told Insider. "What happens in the short run is that housing gets more expensive."
The census data shows most who moved in 2021 went to neighboring Georgia.
Texas, another popular pandemic spot, claimed the number two spot on the list. Ironically, the Texans moving out were most likely to move to California, while Californians moving out of their state were most likely to land in Texas.