moving from Sacramento

 Considering Leaving the Bay Area or Sacramento? Moving Insights to Help Seal the Deal

City Guides

by Kiran Bahl Posted on June 16, 2022

Is everyone moving out of California? It sure seems like it. The Golden State is filled with iconic landmarks, breathtaking scenery, dreamy beaches, and unique employment opportunities. Heck, it’s even the nation’s frontrunner when it comes to . Yet of California in 2021, marking a decline for the second year in a row — and putting its total population back to where it was in 2016. And recent polls by the U.C. Berkeley and U.C. San Diego researchers indicate that half of Californians have — not to mention the millions that have already made the jump. 

Sacramento and the Bay Area, specifically, are some of those California locations with plenty of migrants. About 80 miles, or a little over an hour, away from each other, this has seen a decade of change in just two years, according to Bernadette Austin, the Executive Director at the . But why are so many people moving out of this area? And where are they moving to? Let’s take a closer look.

Looking for Bay Area or Sacramento moving services? PODS offers flexible solutions for your move. You can load at your own speed, and one month of storage is always included — meaning you can take your time finding that next home.

All that glitters isn’t Golden State

When you think of California, what’s the first thought that comes to mind? Is it the high cost of living? Same. That’s likely one of the main reasons people are relocating from Sacramento and the Bay Area. In fact, a lot of the reasons why people are moving out of the state, in general, apply to this specific area. Let’s take a look.

Cost of Living
Compared to the rest of the nation, Cali’s — the third highest in the country after Hawaii and New York. Yes, salaries are generally higher here, but that doesn’t mean much if you still can’t afford everyday essentials.

Housing
Zillow.com reported the typical home value in Sacramento was , as of May 2022. The San Francisco Bay Area? A whopping ! Compare that to Texas, for example, with a typical home value of , and you can see why housing may play a huge factor. Thinking of renting instead of owning? The average rent isn’t much better. For a one-bedroom apartment, it’s around in Sacramento and in San Francisco. That alone can concrete your decision to move — and move fast!

Natural Disasters
It’s not just about earthquakes anymore. Now you have to worry about environmental issues like climbing heat indexes, uncontrollable wildfires, and seemingly unending droughts. In fact, the summer of 2022 marks the third year in a row of an excruciating . And those wildfires? They’ve caused people throughout the state to shut themselves indoors for months on end, just to avoid breathing in the unhealthy air. Does that sound like the California you know and love?

Remote Opportunities
Over the past couple of years, there’s been a huge shift in the workforce. Because of all the quarantining taking place during the pandemic, companies have really jumped on the remote working bandwagon — and it anytime soon. Why is this a huge perk for Californians? They can keep their jobs, salaries, and benefits, but live in much more affordable places throughout the nation. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that?

Insider Tip: Looking for work-from-home options? Check out these best places to live and work remotely in 2022 — and these states that will pay you to move there!
A large sign posted on the side of the road has an image of the Texas state flag and the message, “Welcome to Texas. Drive Friendly - The Texas Way”.

On to greener (and more affordable) pastures

So when leaving California, where do most people go? Well, according to , Texas, Arizona, and Nevada are the top destinations they’re flocking to. 

Texas
Texas is one of nine states that doesn’t have state income tax — adding a nice boost to your budget. Typical housing costs in Texas, as mentioned above, are also significantly lower than in the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley. And, of course, you just can’t beat that southern charm!

Arizona
The overall than in California. For example, according to , you’ll only need a salary of $52,100 in Phoenix to match a $100,000 salary in San Francisco. The economy is flourishing in Arizona, as well, as many large, international companies are setting up headquarters in Phoenix. And if it’s breathtaking landscape attractions you’re after, Arizona can deliver in droves.

Nevada
This state isn’t just about Las Vegas! Cheaper housing and no state income tax are among the many pluses, too. You also get more land for your money as well as a less densely populated space. And the slower pace of living? It may be something you’ll quickly realize you were actually longing for. Sounds like a no-brainer!

Insider Tip: Thinking about Sacramento moving options but still want to live in a similar area? You can! What city is similar to Sacramento? ! A minor difference is you’ll have warmer temperatures year-round. A major change? That would be the thousands of dollars you’ll likely be saving each year on the cost of living. Not a bad trade, huh?
A smiling PODS driver sitting in his red PODS truck while transporting a PODS portable moving container.

Making the leap

When you’ve figured out where your next moving adventure is going to take you, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to Bay Area and Sacramento moving companies. But whether you’re moving one state over or across the country, finding the right company starts with deciding what type of move best suits your situation.

Full-service movers will handle it all for you, but typically at a high price — especially if you want them to pack and unpack your belongings.

Renting a moving truck will be a much more economical option than full-service movers. But are you willing to take on the responsibility of driving that big truck yourself? All that way? And paying extra fees (insurance, gas, etc.) with very restrictive timelines? No pressure, right? Yikes!

PODS moving and storage containers offer built-in storage with every move, making every relocation a flexible one. You pack and load and unpack and unload when you want. And when you’re ready, your container will be delivered to your new place (no driving required on your part!) or stored at a secure PODS Storage Center for as long as you need. Basically, wherever — and whenever — your move takes you, PODS has you covered, so you can focus less on moving your things and more on exploring your new neighborhood!

For more insight into the best places to move, how to get there, and more, check out the PODS Blog.


Kiran Bahl is a freelance writer who loves discovering how to make something better yet simpler at the same time. She lives happily and peacefully amongst her family and enjoys dessert every day — especially after meeting a writing deadline early.

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Does anyone happen to know where I can live with a pit bull? Having troubles finding places
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I'm from Jesup Georgia and we always call Jacksonville the largest city in Southeast Georgia
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Great affordable housing in jacksonville florida and senior neighborhoods near the beach and malls and is ther great medical services and dentist and eye care? is ther adult ausitsm services /residentcy? Looking for a great place to retire with a special need adult on the spectrum.
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My husband & I would like to consider moving to Jax from the Fl. Panhandle (Santa Rosa Beach). We moved to SRB from Miami because we retired and hated all the crime and LOTS of traffic & people in the 305, so we thought that a quieter beach town would be perfect but WRONG. This place is slammed with people all summer long.....tourists from 5-6 states come here and crowd the beaches and restaurants every single day for at least 90 days in the summer and 2-3 weeks in the spring making traffic horrible too, and PS, we don't have the roadways for all of these people. Anyhow......we'd like to see if Jacksonville is a good fit for us. We love shopping, culture, movie theatres, YMCA, biking and more. The one thing that I'd like to know is if there are "seasons" in Jax? We love cool/cold weather in the winter and it does get cold here in the Panhandle but LOTS of rain :-/ Would you say it gets into the 30's or even 40's at night in Jax? :-)) Thanks!
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I'm getting ready to move to Jacksonville. What places would you recommend where the rent is cheap and the area is safe? Thanks!!
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What would you say are the safest areas to live at in Jacksonville? They don’t give safety a very high rating. Thanks for any information you can provide.
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Hello. Hello, I am 63 yrs.old. Hoping to relocate within the next couple of months while working from home so traffic won't be a problem. My 89 year old mom will accompany me. Any suggestions where to live?
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Jacksonville has long been known as the working son among Florida's playboys. It has a very strong blue collar background whereas Miami, Tampa, and Orlando have been the main tourist spots for decades. Also, it doesn't have a very glamorous name and there's a Jacksonville in about every other state so you never know which one people are referring to. If I visit North Carolina and say I'm from Jacksonville they assume I mean the one in there state.
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Thanks for all your great information everyone! I’m looking to rent an apartment for 6 months out of the year, as I live in PA and can’t stand the cold weather anymore. I too like the simple life and small town feel. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.
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