People are leaving Texas over rising costs, partisan politics, and a sense of disenchantment [View all]

[Tom of Temecula]

While some homebuyers seek the American dream in Texas, many are leaving the state to find it elsewhere. "Lifelong Texan here. I am definitely preparing an exit strategy," one anonymous user posted on a Reddit thread about leaving Texas. "From the heat to the stripping away of human rights, I'm just done."

Another poster struck a similar chord. "I've been in Texas most of my life, and my husband and I were always planning on retiring here (in about 5 years from now)," they wrote. "But between this intense heat, crazy politics, and cost of living, we've decided to leave for good and head to Knoxville."

While people have been moving into the Lone Star state to take advantage of its relatively affordable real-estate market, political atmosphere, and work opportunities, some of those same qualities are driving others out. Over 494,000 people left Texas between 2021 and 2022. It's a trend that could intensify as housing costs surge and the state's political landscape becomes more polarized.

As Texas starts to lose its edge as an inexpensive and affordable housing choice, many locals are shifting their focus to the Midwest.

https://www.businessinsider.com/leaving-texas-political-freedom-property-taxes-housing-costs-2023-11