Leaving California From Ventura County: 2026 Numbers and What Sellers Should Plan
Updated November 2026
Quick answer: Leaving California from Ventura County is common, and the official numbers show it. The California Department of Finance estimates Ventura County had a net loss of 5,778 people to domestic migration in the year ending July 1, 2025, while California as a whole had a net loss of about 216,000. Census Bureau data for 2024 shows more Californians moved to Texas than to any other state, with Nevada and Arizona next. If you own a home in Simi Valley or anywhere in Ventura County, plan the California side first: your walk-away number, the tax on your gain, and escrow withholding.
We're Steve Hise and Tricia Garcia, Simi Valley agents. Here are the official numbers, each with its time period, and the steps that matter if you're leaving.
Free guide: Leaving California, the Seller’s Game Plan. The tax questions to answer first, a worksheet for your walk-away number, three ways to time your sale with your move, and a 90-day checklist.
1. How many people are leaving California?
The California Department of Finance (DOF) publishes the state's official population estimates. Its February 2026 release (report E-2) says:
- California had about 39,529,000 people on July 1, 2025, up about 19,200 (0.05%) from a year earlier.
- Net domestic migration was a loss of about 216,000 people for the year ending July 1, 2025. That means about 216,000 more people moved from California to other states than moved in.
- That loss was larger than the year before (about 140,000 in 2023-24) and smaller than 2022-23 (nearly 250,000).
- Net international migration added about 126,000 people, so total net migration was a loss of just over 89,000.
DOF also notes that California has had negative net domestic migration for more than 20 years. What changes from year to year is how many.
2. What the numbers show for Ventura County
The same DOF report breaks the numbers down by county. Ventura County's population was 827,527 on July 1, 2025, down 2,353 (0.28%) from the year before. Here's net domestic migration, which counts moves between Ventura County and the rest of the U.S., for each of the last five years:
| Year ending July 1 | Ventura County net domestic migration |
|---|---|
| 2021 | -7,549 |
| 2022 | -9,407 |
| 2023 | -7,398 |
| 2024 | -4,265 |
| 2025 | -5,778 |
Source: California Department of Finance, E-2 county estimates, February 2026. 2025 figures are preliminary.
Added up, that's a net loss of 34,397 people to domestic migration over five years. In the most recent year, births, deaths and international moves partly offset it: 1,846 more births than deaths and a net gain of 1,579 from abroad.
3. Where are Californians moving?
The Census Bureau's state-to-state migration table from the 2024 American Community Survey estimates that about 661,200 people who lived in California a year earlier were living in another state in 2024, while about 406,900 moved to California from another state. These are survey estimates with margins of error, and they cover a different period and method than DOF's, so the two shouldn't be mixed.
Here are the states that drew the most people from California in 2024, with the flow back the other way:
| State | Moved there from California | Moved to California from there |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 77,161 | 45,447 |
| Nevada | 53,289 | 21,133 |
| Arizona | 52,383 | 28,174 |
| Washington | 43,938 | 26,956 |
| Florida | 36,194 | 15,988 |
| Oregon | 31,500 | 17,954 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates. Each estimate has a margin of error.
By net movement, Nevada, Texas and Arizona each gained more than 24,000 people from California in 2024, and Nevada and Texas were close enough that the survey's margins of error overlap. Florida and Washington came next.
4. What moving companies saw in 2025
Two moving companies publish yearly reports based on their own customers. They measure moves, not people, but they point the same way:
- U-Haul Growth Index (released January 5, 2026): California ranked 50th of 50 states for net gain of one-way customers in 2025, last for the sixth year in a row. U-Haul also said California's net loss was smaller in 2025 than in 2024. Texas ranked first, followed by Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.
- United Van Lines National Movers Study (released December 29, 2025): California was on the company's top outbound list for 2025, after New Jersey and New York. United calls a state "high outbound" when 55% or more of its moves are leaving.
5. What Ventura County sellers should plan first
If you're thinking about leaving, these questions shape every other decision:
- What will you walk away with? Start with a realistic value, then subtract your loan payoff and selling costs. Our Leaving California calculator walks you through it, and What's My Simi Valley Home Worth? gets you a starting value.
- Will you owe tax on the gain? The Franchise Tax Board says you can generally exclude up to $250,000 of gain on your home, or up to $500,000 for married or RDP couples filing jointly, if you meet the 2-out-of-5-year ownership and use tests. If your gain is larger, or the home was a rental, talk with a CPA. California can still tax the gain after you move: see how California taxes your home sale after you move out of state.
- Will escrow hold back money for the state? Under California's Form 593 rules, escrow withholds 3 1/3% of the sales price (or an alternative amount figured on the gain) unless an exemption applies, such as the principal-residence exemption. Our Form 593 guide explains it.
- Sell first or buy first? Selling first gives you known proceeds and one payment; buying first lets you move once. We compare the options in sell first or buy first when you're moving out of state.
6. Planning a move to one of the top destination states?
We've written a page for each of the most common moves from Simi Valley, covering the California sale and what changes when you get there:
- Texas: Simi Valley to Dallas
- Nevada: Simi Valley to Las Vegas
- Arizona: Simi Valley to Phoenix
- Florida: Simi Valley to Florida
- Oregon: Simi Valley to Portland
- Also: Boise and Nashville
For the full picture, read our guide to leaving California and selling your Simi Valley home.
Frequently asked questions
How many people left California in 2025?
The California Department of Finance estimates net domestic migration was a loss of about 216,000 people in the year ending July 1, 2025. That's people moving to other states minus people moving in from them.
Is Ventura County losing population?
DOF estimates Ventura County had 827,527 people on July 1, 2025, down 2,353 from a year earlier, with a net loss of 5,778 to domestic migration. The 2025 figures are preliminary.
Where are most Californians moving?
In the Census Bureau's 2024 state-to-state data, Texas drew the most people from California (about 77,200), followed by Nevada and Arizona. Nevada, Texas and Arizona had the largest net gains from California.
Does California tax my home sale after I move to another state?
It can. The Franchise Tax Board treats the sale of California real property as California-source income, even for nonresidents. The home-sale exclusion may cover some or all of the gain. Talk with a CPA.
What should I do first if I'm leaving Ventura County?
Get your walk-away number: a realistic value minus your payoff and selling costs. Then check your tax picture with a CPA and decide whether to sell first or buy first.
Leaving Ventura County? Let's plan the California side together
We have about 20 years of combined experience and have helped hundreds of families sell and move. We'll help you work out your walk-away number, line up your sale with your move, and connect with your team in the new state. We plan both moves together so you're not stuck in between. Start here to schedule a call, or call or text 805-424-6226.
Sources
- California Department of Finance, E-2. California County Population Estimates and Components of Change by Year, July 1, 2020-2025 (February 2026; report and county spreadsheet viewed November 2, 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024 American Community Survey (viewed November 2, 2026).
- U-Haul, U-Haul Growth Index: Texas Back on Top as No. 1 Growth State of 2025 (January 5, 2026; viewed November 2, 2026).
- United Van Lines, 2025 National Movers Study (December 29, 2025; viewed November 2, 2026).
- Franchise Tax Board, Part-year resident and nonresident (viewed November 2, 2026).
- Franchise Tax Board, Income from the sale of your home (viewed November 2, 2026).
- FTB, 2026 Instructions for Form 593 (viewed November 2, 2026).
Steve Hise and Tricia Garcia, Real Estate Toolbox at eXp Realty, Simi Valley
Steve Hise CA DRE #01702055 | Tricia Garcia CA DRE #02032007
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Population figures are estimates from the sources listed, for the periods shown, and are revised over time. Tax rules depend on your dates and situation, so talk with a CPA before you set your sale date.
