Where Oregonians are moving to
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Many Oregonians who move out of the state don't stray too far, according to newly released census data.
State of play: The top destinations for those who left the state are Washington, followed by California, Arizona, Idaho and Texas.
Why it matters: Out-of-state moving among Oregonians is likely fueled by those seeking affordable housing and a lower cost of living.
- The state's shrinking population could also burden its future economy.
How it works: The new maps are based on new 2018-2022 five-year state-to-county migration estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
- The estimates are best understood as a pooled average covering that time frame.
Zoom in: The top five counties former Oregonians flocked to were:
- Clark County, Washington (that we already knew)
- Maricopa County, Arizona
- King County, Washington
- Los Angeles County, California
- San Diego County, California
The bottom line: Most Americans stay close to home — but plenty are still making big moves, whether for a job, an education or family reasons.