Americans Flee High-Cost States for Affordable Regions

Texas suburbs and Florida cities see fastest population growth as residents seek lower taxes and cost of living.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:38pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated pattern of a simple suburban house in vibrant neon shades, conceptually representing the trend of Americans moving from expensive coastal areas to more affordable Sunbelt regions.As Americans continue to flee high-cost states for more affordable regions, suburban housing booms in Texas and Florida reflect the ongoing 'Great Migration' across the country.Dallas Today

A new report shows that population growth remains strongest in areas of the country with lower costs of living and more modest government, as Americans continue to leave expensive states like California and New York for more affordable regions like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina.

Why it matters

The ongoing 'Great Migration' of residents from high-tax, high-cost states to more affordable regions has major implications for local economies, housing markets, and political dynamics across the country as people seek out areas with a lower cost of living and less intrusive government.

The details

According to the latest data, the Texas suburbs of Houston and Dallas are still seeing some of the fastest population growth in the country, while cities in Florida like Ocala and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina are also experiencing rapid expansion on a percentage basis. Experts say this trend reflects Americans' continued preference for regions with lower taxes, less regulation, and a lower overall cost of living compared to more expensive coastal states run by 'ambitious ideologues'.

  • In 2025, the Houston metropolitan area saw continued strong population growth.
  • Last year, the Ocala, Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina metro areas had the fastest percentage increases in population nationwide.

The players

Houston Chronicle

A major daily newspaper serving the Houston metropolitan area.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A daily newspaper covering the Fort Worth, Texas region.

Eleanor Dearman

A reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram who covers regional population trends.

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What they’re saying

“Houston suburbs are still booming. But how long will it last?”

— Houston Chronicle

“Texas still has the biggest boomtowns, but on a percentage basis population growth was fastest last year in the metropolitan areas of Ocala, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.”

— Eleanor Dearman, Reporter

The takeaway

The ongoing migration of Americans from high-cost, high-tax states to more affordable regions with less intrusive government continues to reshape the country's economic and political landscape, with major implications for local communities across the Sunbelt and beyond.