Where Are Californians Moving in 2026? Spring Relocation Trends Show Arizona Still Leads 

As peak moving season gets underway, one question continues to top homeowners’ minds: Where are Californians moving in 2026? 

According to data from Meathead Movers, Arizona remained the most popular out-of-state destination during April and May 2026, followed by Nevada and Oregon. Based on 32 confirmed interstate household moves across nine destination states, the data also shows that nearly half of all outbound moves originated in Southern California. 

Spring 2026 Moving Trends at a Glance 

• 32 out-of-state household moves 

• 9 destination states 

• Arizona was the No. 1 destination 

• Nevada and Oregon rounded out the top three 

• Nearly 47% of moves originated in Southern California 

• Bakersfield was the most popular origin city 

• Average interstate move weighed 6,226 pounds 

Top States Californians Are Moving To 

During April and May, Meathead Movers completed out-of-state moves to nine different states. The most popular destinations were: 

1. Arizona – 9 moves 

2. Nevada – 7 moves 

3. Oregon – 5 moves 

4. Idaho – 3 moves 

5. Washington – 3 moves 

6. Utah – 2 moves 

7. Colorado and West Virginia – 3 combined moves 

Arizona once again led the list, but not because everyone was headed to Phoenix. Customers relocated to communities across the state, including Tucson, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Apache Junction, Bullhead City, Buckeye, Surprise and Yuma. 

Nevada’s moves were concentrated primarily in Las Vegas and Reno, while Oregon destinations extended beyond Portland to smaller communities like Gold Beach, Coos Bay and Jacksonville. The data suggests that today’s interstate movers are choosing communities of every size based on their individual needs, not simply following the biggest population centers. 

Where Are Californians Moving From? 

Nearly 47% of all interstate moves originated in Southern California, reinforcing the region’s continued role as one of California’s busiest relocation markets. 

The top cities of origin included: 

• Bakersfield (5 moves) 

• Newbury Park (2) 

• Clovis (2) 

• Santa Maria (2) 

• San Luis Obispo (2) 

• Palm Desert (2) 

• Visalia (2) 

An additional 19 moves originated from cities throughout California. 

These Are Full Household Relocations 

These weren’t light moves or temporary relocations. The average interstate shipment weighed 6,226 pounds, with several exceeding 10,000 to 14,000 pounds—roughly the contents of a full moving truck. 

The data reflects families making significant, long-term household moves as they settle into new communities. 

What These Trends Tell Us 

While Arizona continues to lead as the top destination, the broader takeaway is that Californians are relocating to communities of every size across the western United States. Rather than one city emerging as the clear favorite, families are making highly individualized decisions based on their own lifestyles, careers and long-term goals. 

As summer moving season ramps up, these spring trends provide an early snapshot of where Californians are headed in 2026. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• What state are most Californians moving to in 2026? 

• Based on Meathead Movers’ April and May 2026 moving data, Arizona was the most popular destination, accounting for nine confirmed interstate household moves. 

• Are people still moving out of California? 

• Yes. During April and May 2026, Meathead Movers completed 32 confirmed out-of-state household moves across nine destination states. 

• Where are Californians moving? 

• The top destinations this spring were Arizona, Nevada and Oregon, with movers relocating to communities including Tucson, Prescott, Las Vegas, Reno, Gold Beach and Coos Bay. 

• Where are people moving from in California? 

• Nearly half of all interstate moves originated in Southern California, with Bakersfield leading all origin cities during the April–May reporting period.