Bay Area Population & Migration
Why do people migrate out of the county or out of state?
People often move due to a combination of reasons, objective and subjective. The following is not a comprehensive list, or in order of importance.
Job loss, new job, relocation of job, ability to work remotely
Quality of life/social issues: Schools, crime, commuting/traffic, population density, pace of life, natural setting, access to outdoor recreation, cultural affinities and cultural opportunities
More affordable housing/reduced cost of living
To cash out on home appreciation gains
State and local tax rates
Elder care/to be closer to family
Environmental/ecological issues: COVID, fires, earthquakes, floods, droughts, harsh weather
Retirement—a catalyst for moving, typically in conjunction with other reasons above
Education: Moving away for college often leads to permanent relocation
Perception of anti-business/anti-affluence attitudes by local government
Partisan politics
There are many economic and demographic factors at play, and it's unknown how these trends will play out: They may continue, stabilize or reverse.
As far as specific data on county to county migration, the U.S. census just updated their estimates, but they still only go through 2020. If you want to dive in, you can use this county migration flow map, which breaks out net, in-migration and out-migration estimates. You'll need to zero in on the Bay Area on the map: https://flowsmapper.geo.census.gov/map.html# . Be warned that county-migration spreadsheets look at an enormous number of U.S. counties.
