New migration data published by the Internal Revenue Service, based on tax returns filed in 2013 and 2014, shows where Americans are moving to or from at the county level. We’ve identified the top migration flows occurring over more than 200 miles.
Nationally, domestic migration rates remain near historic lows, and when Americans do move, they generally stay within a metropolitan region. But some of the nation’s most populated counties attract large numbers of people from far away each year. For example, more than 9,800 people moved from Los Angeles County, Calif., to Clark County, Nev. (Las Vegas) -- the top year-over-year migration flow over a long distance -- while about 5,700 moved in the opposite direction.
As one would expect, areas of the Sun Belt welcome the most residents from far away. Travis County, Texas, where the thriving city of Austin is located, recorded by far the highest net domestic in-migration -- regardless of distance -- of any county nationally. About three-quarters of its new residents relocated from more than 200 miles away, with many coming from Chicago, Detroit and parts of Florida.
Determining which individuals are making such moves is key to understanding what may be taking place within a region. “If there’s a net long-distance migration of those with high incomes, it’s generally a sign of a vibrant economy,” says Mark Ellis, who researches internal migration at the University of Washington. On the other hand, if a large proportion of a given locality’s residents opt to move long distances away, it could signal a problem with the local labor market.
Overall domestic migration rates have been declining for decades. Research published by professor Thomas Cooke of the University of Connecticut shows that the recent economic downturn accounted for 63 percent of the decline between 1999 and 2009. While migration historically plummets during recessions and rebounds as the economy recovers, some additional factors may be at play this time around. In the past, a new job typically meant that an entire family would relocate. Ellis points out that this move isn’t as automatic now that more employees can work remotely thanks to the Internet and cheaper airfare. In addition, the economy is less tied to manufacturing in much of the country, eliminating the incentive to move. Then there’s the aging of baby boomers, as older Americans tend to migrate at lower rates.
Some of the more recent indicators, however, suggest domestic migration may start to pick back up. Homeownership has fallen sharply in recent years and household sizes are getting smaller, both of which could result in greater mobility. A stronger economy could also go a long way in leading Americans to pack their bags and start new lives elsewhere.
2013-2014 Long Distance Migration Data
This table lists all migration flows where at least 1,000 people relocated more than 200 miles to a new county.| Origin | Destination | Exemptions | Tax Returns | Approximate Distance (Mileage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | Clark County, NV | 9,820 | 5,003 | 230 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Travis County, TX | 6,466 | 3,887 | 1,096 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Travis County, TX | 5,679 | 2,908 | 1,231 |
| Clark County, NV | Los Angeles County, CA | 5,366 | 2,794 | 230 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Maricopa County, AZ | 4,962 | 2,610 | 336 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Los Angeles County, CA | 3,807 | 2,140 | 336 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Travis County, TX | 3,728 | 1,350 | 895 |
| Broward County, FL | Travis County, TX | 3,675 | 2,211 | 1,084 |
| Dallas County, TX | Harris County, TX | 3,671 | 1,993 | 217 |
| San Diego County, CA | Maricopa County, AZ | 3,494 | 1,809 | 249 |
| Cook County, IL | Travis County, TX | 3,349 | 1,830 | 980 |
| Harris County, TX | Dallas County, TX | 3,233 | 1,837 | 217 |
| New York County, NY | Los Angeles County, CA | 3,115 | 2,392 | 2,445 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Santa Clara County, CA | 3,106 | 1,898 | 284 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Alameda County, CA | 2,980 | 1,932 | 314 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | San Diego County, CA | 2,881 | 1,650 | 249 |
| Wayne County, MI | Travis County, TX | 2,865 | 1,608 | 1,154 |
| Cook County, IL | Los Angeles County, CA | 2,764 | 1,939 | 1,738 |
| Fulton County, GA | Travis County, TX | 2,725 | 1,551 | 812 |
| San Diego County, CA | Clark County, NV | 2,636 | 1,417 | 242 |
| Clark County, NV | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,578 | 1,273 | 244 |
| Clark County, NV | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,578 | 1,273 | 244 |
| Clark County, NV | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,578 | 1,273 | 244 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | King County, WA | 2,573 | 1,571 | 937 |
| Orange County, CA | Clark County, NV | 2,568 | 1,368 | 235 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Clark County, NV | 2,527 | 1,235 | 244 |
| Tarrant County, TX | Harris County, TX | 2,470 | 1,263 | 231 |
| Orange County, CA | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,404 | 1,215 | 305 |
| Cook County, IL | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,387 | 1,375 | 1,476 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Orange County, FL | 2,385 | 1,324 | 207 |
| Alameda County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 2,379 | 1,629 | 314 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Harris County, TX | 2,368 | 1,211 | 1,370 |
| Hillsborough County, FL | Travis County, TX | 2,357 | 1,243 | 940 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | San Francisco County, CA | 2,351 | 1,889 | 361 |
| San Francisco County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 2,271 | 1,822 | 361 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 2,224 | 1,431 | 284 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | New York County, NY | 2,203 | 1,787 | 2,445 |
| Palm Beach County, FL | Travis County, TX | 2,056 | 1,228 | 1,076 |
| Riverside County, CA | Maricopa County, AZ | 2,026 | 912 | 204 |
| Riverside County, CA | Travis County, TX | 2,008 | 683 | 1,098 |
| Harris County, TX | Tarrant County, TX | 1,993 | 1,075 | 231 |
| King County, WA | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,992 | 1,246 | 937 |
| Kings County, NY | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,970 | 1,479 | 2,446 |
| San Diego County, CA | Honolulu County, HI | 1,968 | 891 | 2,649 |
| Clark County, NV | San Diego County, CA | 1,940 | 1,061 | 242 |
| Honolulu County, HI | San Diego County, CA | 1,900 | 870 | 2,649 |
| San Diego County, CA | Santa Clara County, CA | 1,861 | 1,053 | 401 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Sacramento County, CA | 1,847 | 1,081 | 340 |
| Orange County, FL | Travis County, TX | 1,832 | 956 | 992 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Orange County, CA | 1,829 | 978 | 305 |
| Cook County, IL | Harris County, TX | 1,818 | 961 | 937 |
| Travis County, TX | Miami-Dade County, FL | 1,817 | 1,073 | 1,096 |
| Shelby County, TN | Travis County, TX | 1,757 | 856 | 567 |
| DeKalb County, GA | Travis County, TX | 1,730 | 956 | 825 |
| Clark County, NV | Travis County, TX | 1,714 | 814 | 1,081 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | King County, WA | 1,680 | 970 | 1,092 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Cook County, IL | 1,668 | 1,135 | 1,738 |
| El Paso County, TX | Bexar County, TX | 1,664 | 748 | 486 |
| New York County, NY | San Francisco County, CA | 1,656 | 1,376 | 2,600 |
| Honolulu County, HI | Clark County, NV | 1,646 | 805 | 2,779 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Contra Costa County, CA | 1,640 | 935 | 330 |
| Sacramento County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,626 | 1,017 | 340 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | San Diego County, CA | 1,590 | 875 | 401 |
| Orange County, FL | Miami-Dade County, FL | 1,588 | 929 | 207 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | Maricopa County, AZ | 1,577 | 725 | 235 |
| Clark County, NV | Orange County, CA | 1,560 | 871 | 235 |
| Hidalgo County, TX | Bexar County, TX | 1,551 | 735 | 212 |
| Hidalgo County, TX | Harris County, TX | 1,518 | 648 | 293 |
| King County, WA | Maricopa County, AZ | 1,513 | 859 | 1,092 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Riverside County, CA | 1,506 | 697 | 204 |
| Harris County, TX | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,468 | 868 | 1,370 |
| King County, WA | Santa Clara County, CA | 1,454 | 767 | 710 |
| Bexar County, TX | Dallas County, TX | 1,423 | 824 | 251 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Dallas County, TX | 1,400 | 787 | 1,240 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,381 | 858 | 330 |
| Cumberland County, NJ | Travis County, TX | 1,375 | 365 | 1,421 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Cook County, IL | 1,374 | 831 | 1,476 |
| Kings County, NY | Travis County, TX | 1,373 | 732 | 1,511 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | San Mateo County, CA | 1,369 | 896 | 320 |
| Honolulu County, HI | Hawaii County, HI | 1,352 | 714 | 217 |
| New York County, NY | Miami-Dade County, FL | 1,327 | 907 | 1,113 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Harris County, TX | 1,314 | 723 | 956 |
| Orange County, CA | Santa Clara County, CA | 1,309 | 769 | 329 |
| Bernalillo County, NM | Maricopa County, AZ | 1,306 | 631 | 353 |
| Philadelphia County, PA | Travis County, TX | 1,300 | 692 | 1,437 |
| Cameron County, TX | Harris County, TX | 1,299 | 538 | 289 |
| San Diego County, CA | Alameda County, CA | 1,295 | 845 | 431 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Orange County, CA | 1,292 | 691 | 329 |
| San Diego County, CA | Harris County, TX | 1,279 | 612 | 1,277 |
| Cook County, IL | New York County, NY | 1,278 | 1,027 | 713 |
| New York County, NY | Cook County, IL | 1,271 | 992 | 713 |
| Salt Lake County, UT | Washington County, UT | 1,270 | 595 | 250 |
| San Diego County, CA | Travis County, TX | 1,264 | 694 | 1,138 |
| Dallas County, TX | Bexar County, TX | 1,254 | 673 | 251 |
| Cook County, IL | Clark County, NV | 1,245 | 706 | 1,513 |
| Cook County, IL | Dallas County, TX | 1,239 | 675 | 805 |
| Cook County, IL | King County, WA | 1,238 | 779 | 1,709 |
| Cook County, IL | Hennepin County, MN | 1,234 | 715 | 363 |
| San Diego County, CA | King County, WA | 1,234 | 763 | 1,034 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,226 | 758 | 2,325 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,226 | 758 | 2,325 |
| Nassau County, NY | Palm Beach County, FL | 1,226 | 688 | 1,049 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | Travis County, TX | 1,226 | 494 | 1,047 |
| Bexar County, TX | Tarrant County, TX | 1,215 | 593 | 241 |
| Queens County, NY | Broward County, FL | 1,209 | 674 | 1,070 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | King County, WA | 1,203 | 640 | 710 |
| Salt Lake County, UT | Maricopa County, AZ | 1,198 | 551 | 507 |
| Collin County, TX | Harris County, TX | 1,160 | 589 | 241 |
| Washoe County, NV | Clark County, NV | 1,156 | 648 | 401 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Kings County, NY | 1,154 | 909 | 2,446 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | Travis County, TX | 1,146 | 526 | 1,121 |
| Cook County, IL | San Diego County, CA | 1,144 | 721 | 1,701 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Honolulu County, HI | 1,136 | 682 | 2,575 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Tarrant County, TX | 1,134 | 543 | 1,211 |
| Orange County, CA | King County, WA | 1,130 | 653 | 978 |
| Harris County, TX | Hidalgo County, TX | 1,129 | 459 | 293 |
| El Paso County, TX | Maricopa County, AZ | 1,124 | 512 | 380 |
| Dallas County, TX | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,121 | 695 | 1,240 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | Harris County, TX | 1,116 | 555 | 1,034 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | San Bernardino County, CA | 1,113 | 522 | 235 |
| Alameda County, CA | San Diego County, CA | 1,113 | 683 | 431 |
| Hawaii County, HI | Honolulu County, HI | 1,110 | 622 | 217 |
| East Baton Rouge County, LA | Harris County, TX | 1,102 | 569 | 261 |
| Tarrant County, TX | Bexar County, TX | 1,096 | 556 | 241 |
| Clark County, NV | Washoe County, NV | 1,087 | 622 | 401 |
| King County, WA | Spokane County, WA | 1,085 | 670 | 207 |
| Orange County, CA | Alameda County, CA | 1,079 | 640 | 359 |
| Honolulu County, HI | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,076 | 652 | 2,575 |
| District of Columbia | New York County, NY | 1,069 | 930 | 207 |
| Collin County, TX | Travis County, TX | 1,067 | 589 | 214 |
| Harris County, TX | Collin County, TX | 1,064 | 552 | 241 |
| San Mateo County, CA | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,060 | 673 | 320 |
| King County, WA | San Diego County, CA | 1,055 | 653 | 1,034 |
| Onslow County, NC | San Diego County, CA | 1,048 | 382 | 2,242 |
| Salt Lake County, UT | Clark County, NV | 1,047 | 516 | 350 |
| San Diego County, CA | Sacramento County, CA | 1,043 | 587 | 454 |
| Cameron County, TX | Bexar County, TX | 1,043 | 509 | 240 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | Miami-Dade County, FL | 1,037 | 632 | 2,325 |
| San Diego County, CA | Onslow County, NC | 1,035 | 390 | 2,242 |
| Pinellas County, FL | Travis County, TX | 1,035 | 602 | 917 |
| Spokane County, WA | King County, WA | 1,024 | 679 | 207 |
| King County, WA | Orange County, CA | 1,022 | 522 | 978 |
| Travis County, TX | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,017 | 649 | 1,231 |
| Orange County, CA | Travis County, TX | 1,009 | 527 | 1,199 |
| Bronx County, NY | Travis County, TX | 1,008 | 505 | 1,521 |
| Bronx County, NY | Travis County, TX | 1,008 | 505 | 1,521 |
| El Paso County, TX | Ector County, TX | 1,004 | 404 | 217 |
| Queens County, NY | Los Angeles County, CA | 1,000 | 695 | 2,452 |
SOURCE: 2013-2014 IRS Migration Data
Data notes
Tax exemptions claimed are used to approximate numbers of people moving from one county to another. The approximate straight line distance between the center of counties was calculated for each migration flow. Moves occurring over a distance of at least 200 miles are shown in the table.View complete migration data for all counties
