Have you ever noticed that more and more Californians are migrating their way out of California and settling In places in Arizona like the Phoenix metro area?
After moving thousands of Californians to Arizona — as well as moving many thousands of our wonderful customers to virtually every state in the US — these are the reasons why people are moving to our beautiful state. But the question still stands, why are Californians moving to Arizona?
Well if you’re looking to move yourself or just curious about it, then this post is right for you. In this helpful article, we will review 7 reasons why Californians are moving to Arizona and why we think you should too. Let’s get started.
If you haven’t seen, there is a huge number of Americans moving from California to Arizona.
In fact, Census.gov estimates 70,000 people move from California to Arizona in 2019 alone!
And we can confirm these huge numbers of movers. While we didn’t move all 70,000 in our moving trucks, we safely and securely moved a lot of them.
Below are seven of the reasons why Californians are moving to Arizona.
Ever since Arizona was declared a state in 1912, its population has ballooned from a mere 217,000 to the current more than 7.2 million. Arizona was actually the 2nd fastest-growing state between 1990 and 2000, with a population growth of 40%.
One of the major contributors to population growth in Arizona is domestic migration from neighboring states, particularly California. Many people move from California and other high-cost states to Arizona to look for affordable housing and better living conditions.
Generally, the cost of living in Arizona is low. A CNN’s Cost of Living estimation found that a $100,000 salary in San Diego, California is equivalent to $71,378 in Phoenix. The cost of basic items, such as groceries (24% cheaper), utilities (20% cheaper), transportation (29% cheaper), and healthcare (28% cheaper) are lower in Arizona.
Plainly put, California’s cost of living is just too high for most people. And many people find it hard to have an affordable cost of living. It is, after all, called the Golden State for a reason.
Nobody likes paying taxes, especially if they consume a significant percentage of your paycheck. In 2022, Arizona taxpayers earning an average of $22,272 pay a 2.55% tax rate. Those earning higher than this pay a 2.98% income tax rate. On the other hand, single-tax filers in California earning a maximum of $9,236 pay 1%, while those earning up to $22,107 pay a fixed amount of $93.25 plus a 2% of any amount above the minimum tax wage.
If you earn $34,892 in California, you should pay $348.89 plus 4% of the amount above the minimum wage. California’s tax rates increase with income, making life unbearable for most residents.
There is an excellent conversion about Arizona now proposing one of the lowest flat taxes in the country, beginning in 2023. Go here to read more about the tax plan here.
For more information about Arizona taxes, visit the Arizona Department of Revenue here:
Interestingly, a good percentage of middle-aged families relocate to search for better schools and education systems for their kids. While this isn’t the main reason, it is part of the many reasons Californians are moving to Arizona. The state of Arizona has 66 public schools and is ranked the 14th state with the largest public school systems.
The state also hosts several prestigious charter institutions, colleges, and universities. Among the top public schools in Arizona include the Vail Unified School in Tucson, Chandler Unified School, Choice Academies in Phoenix, and Catalina Unified School District, among others.
Plus, Arizona is home to some incredible Universities, including The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, Arizona Christian University. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and more.
Apart from favorable financial systems in Arizona, the increasing number of job and career opportunities has attracted many people to the state. Many multinational companies and tech firms have settled in Arizona, broadening the job market.
Despite the estimated 93,000 jobs lost during the pandemic, Arizona has recovered, creating approximately 105,700 new opportunities in 2021. 127,200 more job opportunities will likely open up in 2022 as the state focuses on creating 700,000 jobs by 2030.
The excellent California weather calls everyone outside. However, with everyone going outdoors, traffic in California worsens. While the roads leading out of California cities are less congested, residents of Los Angeles spend up to 120 hours or five days in traffic annually.
Unlike Arizona, traffic in California is terrible. A recent TomTom Traffic Index ranking U.S cities listed Los Angeles as the top congested city with 27%. Other Californian cities had high congestion levels, with San Francisco ranking fourth with 21% and San Jose sixth with 19%.
On the contrary, Tucson was the first city in Arizona, which appeared at position 18 with a 16% congestion level.
Breathtaking sights is another reason why people move to Arizona from California. While California has an exciting landscape, it comes with a price, which many Californians cannot afford. Arizona boasts of beautiful mountains and canyons, such as the Grand Canyon, which provides endless hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, skydiving, and swimming opportunities.
Not only is Arizona known for the Grand Canyon, but also Antelope Canyon, Havasu Falls near the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Petrified Forest National Park, Red Rock State Park, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area and much much more.
Additionally the USGS reports that Arizona has great natural resources including leading in copper production and is a major producer of crude perlite, molybdenum, and silver.
California is widely known for being prone to nearly all types of natural disasters. Relocating from California to Arizona frees you from the worries of being affected by disastrous earthquakes and forest fires. Arizona sits close to the Pacific Coast, which lies between California and Mexico.
The state also lies on bedrock, making it less prone to earthquakes. The majority of Arizona residents also reside along the Phoenix Valley, which doesn’t have much vegetation to fuel forest fires. California has experienced 355 natural disasters since 1953, way higher than Arizona’s 103.
When it comes to buying a home, many Californians find themselves priced out of the market due to the state’s high home prices. Even in more affordable areas like Bakersfield, the cost of living is still too high for many people.
In contrast, Phoenix offers more affordable housing options with a median home price of around $280,000, which is less than half of what you would pay in California. One of the top reasons why people move to Arizona instead of living in California.
With such a significant price difference, you can get more for your money in Phoenix. For example, for around $300,000, you can purchase a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a spacious yard and garage in many Phoenix neighborhoods. You’ll also find ample storage space, which is often a challenge for Californians.
In contrast, the median home price in Los Angeles is around $650,000, and many homes cost even more. This makes it difficult for many Californians to ever own a home, forcing them to rent and lose much of their paycheck perpetually.
By moving to Arizona, you can invest in a home and build equity while still enjoying a high quality of life. With a lower cost of living, you can put more money towards savings, retirement, or other investments. So if you’re looking for an affordable place to call home, Arizona might be the perfect choice for you.
If you wanna jump on the wagon and planning on making the move from California to the Grand Canyon state, then Copper State Moving is right here to help you.
We offer stress-free moving for new residents of Arizona. So if you plan to move to the Cooper State, our services are at your disposal.
Relocating from one location to another can be a daunting and overwhelming task if not supported by professionals. Thankfully, we are here to assist you. With more than ten years of experience in the moving sector, we have successfully guided numerous clients through a smooth and stress-free transition.
What sets us apart from other moving companies in Arizona is our well-earned reputation for delivering impeccable service at competitive prices.
We also offer long-distance movers from Arizona and to the rest of the lower 48 states (the contiguous US states excluding Hawaii and Alaska).California and Arizona are neighboring states that share and differ a lot.
Before moving to Arizona, you should choose a perfect city to settle in. And that is where we can absolutely help you as you develop your plan.
Phoenix is a favorite for many domestic migrants for several reasons. However, you can choose other cities in Arizona, such as Prescott, Flagstaff, Tucson, Sedona, Scottsdale, and Yuma.
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