Main flow
77,198
California → Texas
Two-Way America · 2026 edition
Migration rarely moves in one direction
The largest interstate routes also carry substantial return flows. Gross exchange and directional balance tell different stories.
Download infographicAnnual survey estimates
These are ACS 2024 weighted annual flows with 90% margins of error—not moves observed specifically in 2026.
Four numbers, four meanings
Reverse flow
45,803
Texas → California
Gross exchange
123,001
Both directions added
Balance
31,395
Difference toward Texas
Largest two-way exchanges
1. California ↔ Texas123,001
California to Texas: balance 31,395
2. Florida ↔ Texas97,000
Florida to Texas: balance 7,400
3. New Jersey ↔ New York94,271
New York to New Jersey: balance 21,559
4. Florida ↔ Georgia89,370
Florida to Georgia: balance 18,230
5. Florida ↔ New York79,925
New York to Florida: balance 25,117
6. Arizona ↔ California79,797
California to Arizona: balance 22,705
7. California ↔ Nevada75,315
California to Nevada: balance 32,317
8. California ↔ Washington73,617
California to Washington: balance 22,339
9. New Jersey ↔ Pennsylvania64,951
New Jersey to Pennsylvania: balance 11,871
10. North Carolina ↔ South Carolina59,945
North Carolina to South Carolina: balance 7,733
11. Florida ↔ Pennsylvania59,756
Pennsylvania to Florida: balance 6,266
12. Florida ↔ North Carolina57,285
Florida to North Carolina: balance 5,693
Direction-by-direction evidence
| Pair | A → B | B → A | Gross | Balance | Dominant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California ↔ Texas | 77,198 ± 9,890 | 45,803 ± 6,792 | 123,001 | 31,395 | California to Texas |
| Florida ↔ Texas | 52,200 ± 8,633 | 44,800 ± 12,461 | 97,000 | 7,400 | Florida to Texas |
| New Jersey ↔ New York | 36,356 ± 5,884 | 57,915 ± 9,105 | 94,271 | 21,559 | New York to New Jersey |
| Florida ↔ Georgia | 53,800 ± 9,235 | 35,570 ± 6,622 | 89,370 | 18,230 | Florida to Georgia |
| Florida ↔ New York | 27,404 ± 3,951 | 52,521 ± 7,743 | 79,925 | 25,117 | New York to Florida |
| Arizona ↔ California | 28,546 ± 5,272 | 51,251 ± 7,068 | 79,797 | 22,705 | California to Arizona |
| California ↔ Nevada | 53,816 ± 8,136 | 21,499 ± 5,362 | 75,315 | 32,317 | California to Nevada |
| California ↔ Washington | 47,978 ± 6,610 | 25,639 ± 4,844 | 73,617 | 22,339 | California to Washington |
| New Jersey ↔ Pennsylvania | 38,411 ± 5,876 | 26,540 ± 4,304 | 64,951 | 11,871 | New Jersey to Pennsylvania |
| North Carolina ↔ South Carolina | 33,839 ± 6,269 | 26,106 ± 3,970 | 59,945 | 7,733 | North Carolina to South Carolina |
| Florida ↔ Pennsylvania | 26,745 ± 4,823 | 33,011 ± 6,618 | 59,756 | 6,266 | Pennsylvania to Florida |
| Florida ↔ North Carolina | 31,489 ± 4,584 | 25,796 ± 5,915 | 57,285 | 5,693 | Florida to North Carolina |
| California ↔ New York | 30,149 ± 4,556 | 25,609 ± 4,245 | 55,758 | 4,540 | California to New York |
| New York ↔ Pennsylvania | 31,014 ± 5,483 | 22,364 ± 3,994 | 53,378 | 8,650 | New York to Pennsylvania |
| California ↔ Florida | 37,272 ± 6,499 | 15,268 ± 3,050 | 52,540 | 22,004 | California to Florida |
| Maryland ↔ Virginia | 23,562 ± 4,435 | 28,452 ± 6,143 | 52,014 | 4,890 | Virginia to Maryland |
| Colorado ↔ Texas | 24,356 ± 5,474 | 27,337 ± 5,011 | 51,693 | 2,981 | Texas to Colorado |
| Florida ↔ Virginia | 23,651 ± 4,299 | 27,488 ± 6,943 | 51,139 | 3,837 | Virginia to Florida |
| California ↔ Oregon | 30,239 ± 4,949 | 19,800 ± 4,796 | 50,039 | 10,439 | California to Oregon |
| Oregon ↔ Washington | 30,723 ± 4,537 | 18,847 ± 3,309 | 49,570 | 11,876 | Oregon to Washington |
Methodology and limitations
We pair every unordered state pair from ACS PUMS, retain both weighted directions and their replicate-weight MOEs, then calculate gross exchange and absolute balance. Gross exchange is not net migration and should not be combined with Census population components.