Texas relocation guide

Where to move from Texas

On an $80,000 salary (about the Texas median household income) you keep $65,110 after 2026 taxes. 26 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+9.6%) comes from moving to South Dakota.

By Abu HasnatData reviewed Sep 25, 2026Data: IRS, Census ACS, BEA (methodology)

State income tax on $80,000

None

2026 rules, single filer

Price level (U.S. = 100)

97.1

BEA 2024

Net movers, 2022–2023

+56,473

households to/from other states

Buying power by destination

Change in after-tax, price-adjusted pay if you move from Texas on $80,000Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau

Every state ranked for someone leaving Texas

The ranking starts at about Texas's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.

At a salary of $80,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+9.6%) comes from moving to South Dakota.

Every state ranked by the change in buying power for someone leaving Texas. Single filer, $80,000 W-2 salary.
Move to	Buying power	Take-home change	Rent / mo	Equal salary
South Dakota	+9.6%	$0	$999	$71,900
North Dakota	+8.6%	-$301	$980	$72,500
Mississippi	+7.4%	-$2,468	$990	$73,500
Arkansas	+7.3%	-$2,585	$982	$73,600
Louisiana	+6.7%	-$2,014	$1,064	$74,100
Iowa	+6.5%	-$2,388	$981	$74,200
Tennessee	+5.7%	$0	$1,284	$75,000
Oklahoma	+5.4%	-$3,055	$1,044	$75,200
Wyoming	+4.7%	$0	$998	$75,800
West Virginia	+3.9%	-$2,775	$883	$76,500
Alabama	+3.8%	-$3,322	$1,077	$76,600
Kentucky	+3.2%	-$2,682	$998	$77,100
Nebraska	+3.2%	-$2,760	$1,102	$77,100
Missouri	+2.4%	-$2,761	$1,067	$77,800
Ohio	+2.3%	-$1,425	$1,090	$77,800
Kansas	+1.7%	-$3,664	$1,079	$78,400
New Mexico	+1.1%	-$2,594	$1,117	$78,900
South Carolina	-1.1%	-$2,989	$1,272	$81,100
North Carolina	-1.3%	-$2,683	$1,338	$81,200
Indiana	-1.7%	-$3,634	$1,104	$81,700
Wisconsin	-1.9%	-$3,240	$1,142	$81,900
Montana	-2.3%	-$3,159	$1,177	$82,300
Nevada	-2.9%	$0	$1,709	$82,800
Idaho	-3.2%	-$3,132	$1,384	$83,200
Michigan	-3.9%	-$3,149	$1,168	$83,900
Georgia	-4.2%	-$3,244	$1,506	$84,100
Pennsylvania	-4.4%	-$2,512	$1,252	$84,200
Vermont	-5.2%	-$2,820	$1,319	$85,400
Alaska	-5.6%	-$271	$1,444	$85,400
Arizona	-5.9%	-$1,598	$1,672	$85,900
Florida	-6.1%	$0	$1,812	$86,000
Maine	-6.2%	-$4,122	$1,210	$86,400
New Hampshire	-6.8%	$0	$1,558	$86,800
Utah	-6.9%	-$3,397	$1,593	$87,100
Minnesota	-8.0%	-$4,269	$1,291	$88,400
Illinois	-8.6%	-$3,815	$1,322	$88,800
Delaware	-9.1%	-$4,259	$1,530	$89,600
Virginia	-9.5%	-$3,786	$1,646	$90,000
Rhode Island	-9.8%	-$3,263	$1,418	$90,300
Colorado	-10.4%	-$3,164	$1,822	$91,000
Washington	-10.8%	-$1,110	$1,824	$91,200
Connecticut	-12.3%	-$4,175	$1,550	$93,400
Massachusetts	-14.1%	-$4,148	$1,848	$95,400
Oregon	-14.7%	-$5,958	$1,597	$96,700
New Jersey	-15.5%	-$3,432	$1,800	$97,700
New York	-15.6%	-$4,069	$1,634	$97,600
Maryland	-15.6%	-$5,713	$1,721	$97,600
Washington, DC	-16.8%	-$3,832	$1,931	$100,100
California	-18.0%	-$4,235	$2,104	$102,400
Hawaii	-18.1%	-$4,666	$1,942	$101,200

Single filer, $80,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.

Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.

Where Texas residents actually move

Leaving Texas for… (households)

California24,970

Florida20,050

Colorado14,923

Oklahoma11,582

Louisiana10,522

New York9,433

Washington9,307

Georgia9,120

Moving to Texas from… (households)

California44,417

Florida24,196

Louisiana15,068

New York12,961

Colorado12,275

Illinois12,078

Georgia10,897

Oklahoma10,157

Net households gained (+) or lost (−) by Texas, by IRS tax year

Net gain

2018–19+51,359

2019–20+62,667

2020–21+82,842

2021–22+88,216

2022–23+56,473

Texas gained households from other states in every one of the last five IRS years.

IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.

Everyday costs in Texas

Average electric bill: $164/mo
Regular gas: $3.96/gal
Insure + fuel one car: $3,330/yr
Health plan, age 40: $661/mo
Natural hazard risk: Among the highest (91)
Property tax (effective): 1.31%

EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.

Cities in Texas

More about living in Texas

Cost of living

Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in Texas.

Buying a home

Income needed and monthly cost of the median Texas home.

Retiring in Texas

How Texas taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.

Moving to Texas

Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.

Moving costs

What it costs to move from Texas to every other state.

Car shipping

What it costs to ship a car from Texas to every state.

Disaster risk

FEMA risk for Texas and every county.

Health insurance

2026 Marketplace premiums in Texas by age.

Property tax by county

Effective rates for every Texas county.

Frequently asked questions

Where do people from Texas move?

The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were California (24,970 households), Florida (20,050 households), Colorado (14,923 households).

Is Texas gaining or losing residents to other states?

Texas had a net gain of 56,473 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).

Which state gives the most buying power if I leave Texas?

On an $80,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+9.6%).

Moving to Texas instead?

The Moving to Texas guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here are listed below; for any other move, use the calculator.