Census: More moving out than moving in
By: DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | ∞
Mayflower Moving Company worker Ricky Saldana hauls goods to a truck along Pinto Ridge Circle on Tuesday. The residents are moving from North County to Sacramento.
DON BOOMER Staff Photographer
Order a copy of this photo
Visit our Photo Gallery
NORTH COUNTY ---- Blame it on the sky-high housing prices. In all but one year of this decade, more people have moved out of San Diego County than have moved in from other parts of the state and nation. And, not surprisingly, say analysts, the trend accelerated during the last three years, with homes never more out of reach of the typical area family.
The total number of fleeing San Diego County residents reached a peak of 42,034 last year, eighth highest among all U.S. counties, according to new Census Bureau statistics. That exodus ---- focusing on the 12 months that ended July 1 ---- came on the coattails of a net domestic migration loss of 37,666 residents the previous year and a loss of 32,140 the year before that.
Still, the population is growing because births and immigrants combined outnumber the folks leaving for greener pastures within the United States.
"A lot of people are moving to Texas from here," said Darius Khoshnevis, owner of the U-Haul on Ninth Avenue in Escondido. "I think it's because of the housing market. They can buy a house there for less than half of what they would pay for one for here."
Texas isn't the only place they're headed, Khoshnevis said. Many are going to Arizona, Nevada and Utah as well, he said.
And droves are bound for points just across the county line.
The major coastal counties of San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles have been posting net domestic migration losses for years, and Riverside County has been capturing a large chunk of the movers. Last year alone, 58,051 more people moved into Riverside County than moved out, accounting for the lion's share of the county's overall population growth of 81,411, the census reported.
That coastal-to-inland movement vaulted Riverside County into fourth place among California's most populous counties, with a population of 2 million.
Fueling Riverside County
"We're fueling a lot of that growth," said Ed Schafer, senior demographer for the San Diego Association of Governments, a regional planning agency. "A lot of the people who are moving to Riverside are working in San Diego County. They are moving to Riverside because of the housing prices. It is just so expensive in San Diego County."
For more than a year, the median price of a single-family home in North San Diego County has hovered above $600,000, a price fewer than one in 10 San Diego County families can afford, according to local real estate officials.
Meanwhile, the ratio of people moving out of San Diego County to those moving in has reached such a feverish pace that truck rental companies are scrambling to keep up.
Jerry Mitchell, who owns the land that a Vista U-Haul business sits on, said, "We will be scrounging for one-way trucks this summer because there just aren't that many people moving in."
When it comes to the other U.S. counties that saw large a domestic migration out last year, Orleans Parish in the Hurricane Katrina-battered New Orleans area was tops with 226,718 people leaving.
Other losers include Los Angeles County, 183,063; Cook County, Ill. (Chicago), 91,693; Kings County, N.Y. (New York City), 53,878; Queens County, N.Y. (New York City), 49,617; St. Bernard Parish, La., 48,928; and Orange County, 46,199.
However, there were stark differences between the California counties and the storm-ravaged regions of the Gulf Coast. Both Louisiana parishes posted total population losses that nearly matched their domestic migration losses. But all three Southern California coastal counties posted overall population gains, census figures show.
In San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, steady international immigration offset half of the loss of residents to other counties and other states. And babies more than made up for the rest.
As a result, San Diego County grew by 4,845 residents, the census stated.
"Our growth is being generated by natural increase," Schafer said. "This is what we have been telling people for a long time was going to happen."
Not in Kansas anymore
San Diego County already grew slower than the nation last decade, and last year's small increase put the county's rate at but a fraction of the nation's. Schafer said the county grew 0.17 percent in 2006, while the nation grew about 1 percent.
Whether that trend continues will depend largely on the housing market, Schafer said.
"I don't think we'll ever have housing costs that look like Kansas," he said. "But you know, if we lost like 25 percent of the value of homes, then the area would be competitive again in terms of housing."
In some ways, the slow growth rate paints a distorted picture of the region, he said, because San Diego's economy is still growing at a steady rate.
"If you really wanted to look at how the region works economically, you'd want to throw in half of Riverside County and a good portion of northern Baja (California)," Schafer said.
The association estimates that 40,000 people travel across the international border daily to jobs in San Diego County, and a 2002 survey found that 30,000 commuters drive south out of Temecula ---- and the numbers are growing by leaps and bounds.
Essentially, he said, southern Riverside County has become an extension of San Diego County's housing stock.
Between 2000 and 2006, San Diego County built 78,000 homes. That did not come close to keeping pace with the area's employment growth of 106,000 jobs, he said.
"Most of the homes that San Diegans are buying have been built outside San Diego," Schafer said.
Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 740-5442 or ddowney@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
Rumblfish wrote on Apr 3, 2007 11:43 PM:Could this mean more citizens and legal residents are moving out and more illegal residents are moving in?
George wrote on Apr 4, 2007 2:14 AM:30,000 commuters from Temecula pass through Escondido during the three-hour rush periods? One lane has a maximum capacity of 2,000 cars per hour which means you'd need five lanes just to handle those passing through. A quick look at the I-15 reveals a core capacity of only four lanes at the chokepoints. No wonder travel is in single-digits every morning and evening!
No martyr wrote on Apr 4, 2007 2:17 AM:Sure, the weather's nice but we have to balance that against other quality of life issues. The trends are becoming clear. The biggest losers are the areas with the largest illegal immigrant populations. Life is short and there comes a time when we need to make decisions. The incoming illegals will be doing the work that entrenched illegals will no longer do. Cesar Chavez must be turning over in his grave. The writing/graffiti is on the wall/walls. I do not plan to be the last rat off the ship.
weeding out wrote on Apr 4, 2007 4:43 AM:It is just clearing out the chaff from the wheat.
TOO MANY PEOPLE wrote on Apr 4, 2007 4:50 AM:Californians know what's happening to our state because we're forced to face the worsening consequences on a daily basis: impossible traffic, unbreathable air, endless urban sprawl, badly overcrowded schools, a dangerously depleted health care system, loss of open space and habitat, depressed wages, heavier taxpayer burdens, and more. All of these problems have two things in common: they are robbing us of the quality of life for which we work so hard and they all have the same cause: too many people. Too many people and too few resources. America's open-door policies have left California, and the nation, with a continued and unsustainable flood of immigration. And something must be done
Seabiscuit wrote on Apr 4, 2007 4:50 AM:So why has the traffic gotten so much worse during these 10 years? Births during this time doesn't explain it, and neither would immigration. Are the ones who left the ones without cars?
Adam wrote on Apr 4, 2007 5:03 AM:I'll bet they said the same thing about Maywood, California 20 years ago. According to the CBS Evening News, more than 50% of the city's population are undocumented immigrants, and Mayor Thomas Martin has declared that the city will refuse to cooperate with any enforcement of U.S. immigration law, making the city a haven for illegals.
Bob wrote on Apr 4, 2007 6:39 AM:Hopefully this trend will continue.
Blame it on... wrote on Apr 4, 2007 6:59 AM:healthcare for illegals is coming.... carbon taxes are coming....
Great News wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:17 AM:I hope we see 400,000 move out, it may make a slight difference. A 25% correction is the minimum. Thanks for the positive news. I hope they keep on moving to Texas! That state has been missing an idiot for nearly 8 years.
Prices of homes wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:23 AM:only part of the reason people are leaving. Out of control illegal immigration and the decrease quality of life another factor. Sunshine alone just doesn't "cut it" anymore.
Sam wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:26 AM:It is taxes, illeagal immagration, and California is not a business friendly state. Some of those states, like Texas, Nevada, etc., don't have state income tax or gas taxes higher than other states.
laughing local wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:34 AM:Why has everyone been acting like this is a bad thing? Southern California is like a night club, you can only fit so many people in the room before you call the Fire Marshal. Don't let the door hit you on the way out folks. Most of these people were scammy real estate flippers who screwed everything up there for awhile. They are giving away free land in Kansas, so move there.
Ted wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:36 AM:housing is just a small part of the reason. Just read the paper every day and see the crime in the county and especially north county. That and the fact that San Diego county is becoming simply a suburb of Mexico. Check out the ER at Tri-City. It is loaded with illegal aliens from Mexico and all at your expense. The roads and freeways are filled with illegals all with no insurance. The quality of life in San Diego is quickly being ruined by traffic, overcrowding and the takeover by illegal aliens. God help you all
JP wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:39 AM:The big San Diego employers should take a census of where their employees live and move the company there. If 90% of your employees are driving in from Temecula on the freeway then just do the smart thing and move your company to Temecula. That would increase the quality of life for everyone, especially with gas over three bucks a gallon.
wake up call wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:56 AM:If this trend continues, businesses will leave SD due to the exodus of skilled labor. This isn't a good long term trend at all if you think about it. Traffic won't improve because people are just communting longer because they bought a house further into suburbia (outside SD county). What has to happen is, the jobs-housing imbalance MUST correct itself or SD is going in the tank. Either pay for good jobs goes up a ton, or housing prices go down. One or both must occur or we are all in trouble here in SD.
it's going downhill fast wrote on Apr 4, 2007 8:48 AM:Welcome to Mexifornia! Legal citizens are leaving, and illegals are moving in.
here we go again wrote on Apr 4, 2007 8:52 AM:The illegal immigrant paranoia shows up on every story in the comments section. New Library To BE Built "It would be bigger if it weren't for the illegals" Schools to Make Cuts "The schools are spending to much money on illegals" GAs Prices Rise "Illegals driving around without insurance are causing it" If you are so scared of hispanic people please move, don't let la puerta pegarles en las nalgas.
Laura wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:36 AM:Could the last one out please turn out the lights?
Nick wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:48 AM:George, you are absolutely correct. Since the Great folks of Temecula pay taxes to Riverside County, I say they find jobs in Riverside and stay out of San Diego all together.
james wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:48 AM:We need a motto like Reno... The biggest little taco shop in the world..
Fools wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:54 AM:I hope all the politicians in CA are getting what they want, which is out of control illegal immigrants coming here. Congratulations Boxer, Feinstein, and the rest of you, you and your self-serving policies on illegal immigration are what is chasing the legal residents out of here.
So Cal Native wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:54 AM:Good riddens! More waves and beach for me!
BUH-Bye !!! wrote on Apr 4, 2007 10:13 AM:Well, ya-all dislike it here so much (but of course you aren't prejudiced, just practical), - here's my input -BUH-BYE!!! Oh, and just for fun: "adios amigos"- feel free to go to some white place where you can be righty white! PS this was an article on unaffordable housing - not immigration, but apparently unaffordable housing for one out of ten families is of no import! T When I move here 18 years ago I soon realized that San Diego is a place of conservative elitists. A place of boring complaceny and an ignorance "of choice" - with well to do rich and middle class wanna be's livinf cookie-cutter lives- a sparkling jewel on the outside hiding so much bigotry. . .
anonymous wrote on Apr 4, 2007 10:16 AM:I seriously doubt illegals have anything to do with population decreased in san diego county. Do you think Riverside county is whiteville? Guess again. It's simply the housing market. People don't want to rent homes for the rest of their lives, therefore they need to flee to an area that gives them an opportunity to own a home. Granted the area such as Hemet, Murrieta, etc isn't exactly the most ideal location, but at the end of the day they have a house.
Vista wrote on Apr 4, 2007 10:26 AM:My kids moved their families out because they didn't want to raise their children in this environment. And they ALREADY had their homes so take that out of the equation. Its quality of life and its eroding here---fast.
HUH???? wrote on Apr 4, 2007 10:38 AM:Was this an article on illegal immigration- what do Boxer & Feinstien have to do with housing costs???
Moved back to North County wrote on Apr 4, 2007 10:51 AM:We moved up to the Murrieta/Temecula 4 years ago so we could be homeowners. We just moved back to the North County because the price to live up there was not worth it anymore. We sold the house for close to what was owed on it because the market is so bad right now. Electricity rates in the summer are higher than ever. (We paid 1800 over 3 months last summer)Paying over 3 dollars a gallon for gas didn't help either. We decided we would rather not own our home if it meant doubling the cost to live up there. It is no longer more affordable to be in Riverside county. Good riddance.
Re:Vista wrote on Apr 4, 2007 11:04 AM:"In this environment" - code for racism. Your kids don't want their children in schools with brown skinned children. Can Kansas actually take all of you racists?
This is really a good thing wrote on Apr 4, 2007 11:19 AM:First off it will make San Diego County a more pleasant place for those of us that CAN afford to live here. It will mean a mostly affluent educated community. The people who can't afford it here need to move to someplace like Iowa or Alabama.
listen up wrote on Apr 4, 2007 12:12 PM:Here's how it works. Some investor type buys a house, their mortgage, taxes, insurance, runs about $2500 a month. They rent the house to at least 20 people. Cram them all into a single family home. They charge each of the 20 $500 rent. $10000 a month income. After exspenses they have plenty left to save up to buy the next house, and the next, and the next. To them this unaffordable housing is more than affordable. Then eventually the neighborhood turns to crap, houses become more "affordable". Its happening all over the county. I guess you can say its a version of the American dream. Or thats what they'd have you believe. Unfortunately this nightmare is now reality.
Pluto wrote on Apr 4, 2007 12:12 PM:This article illustrates a major contradiction inherent in our economic system. On one hand, we hate overcrowding and all it's manifestations. On the other hand, our economy needs and demands constant growth, and is threatened if people move away. This contradiction was recently illustrated when a local realtor ran for Vista Mayor on a platform of blaming the immigrants for the overcrowding he helped create.
BUH-Bye !!! thinks this is about racism wrote on Apr 4, 2007 12:15 PM:so narrow minded. California is becoming too expensive, and with the Goven-a-tor providing free healthcare, and now carbon credits, we can't get out of here fast enough! People to opportunity, not from it.
Caustic wrote on Apr 4, 2007 2:30 PM:Leaving SW Riverside County and returning to San Diego was the best move I ever made. Its a good region for those who need to break into the housing market as first time buyers, but if you want quality of life, you have to leave that sand trap, which now is infested by low income hillbillies who are NIMBYs, and are convinced they are upscale Southern Californians.
Sunny Dee wrote on Apr 4, 2007 2:41 PM:Ted is right on. All my friends have left to have families in affordable areas with better quality of life. Ten years ago I could hike, bike or surf anytime. This month two bicyclists mowed down and killed. Sewage spills in Carlsbad making the water too polluted to surf in. We might as well be snowed in somewhere in the East or Midwest because it is becoming undesirable to enjoy what is the best of San Diego.
Idiots wrote on Apr 4, 2007 3:03 PM:The people posting all the retoric about whitey being racist, and we're all scared of illegals is ridiculous. Nobody - including all the illegals posting on this site - don't want a rush of people from another country coming in illegally and trying to take over our city. Certainly Californians couldn't go to Mexico and get the same treatment the Illegals get here. The reason so many are moving out is because our spineless politicians won't control the rush of people flowing over the border, and since they can't fight it anymore they're leaving. I think it's safe to say that housing prices are a small part of the overall Exodus of people leaving San Diego county. We're being overrun, plain and simple!
What free health care ??? wrote on Apr 4, 2007 4:03 PM:Ca is now providing free health care ?!- News to me! Sign me up - where do you guys get this stuff?
Juanita wrote on Apr 4, 2007 4:52 PM:To Jorge - I've noticed the "emotional ploys" too.
Back to North County wrote on Apr 4, 2007 5:12 PM:I agree with Caustic totally. We moved to Murrieta for a few years and came back to San Diego last year. It was the best thing we ever did. I feel like we have a life again and everything is so close. Who cares if I had a newer house in Murrieta? When it comes down to it, my husband has 10 minute commute now, comes home for lunch, beach is 20 minutes away, downtown San diego is 20 minutes away. When we lived in Murriet we never went anywhere because it was too far and too inconvenient and my husband sat in that awful traffic for 30 HOURS a month. And you are right Caustic....it has attracted alot of low class people and even more so now with being SO cheap there with SO much inventory. I have a 1/2 acre now with beautiful mature trees, total privacy in my backyard, an HOA (yay!). I feel like I am back in paradise. I do know alot of my friends wish they could come back down here, but they bought at the wrong time and now are stuck there and cannot afford to come back. Poor them.
Third Generation SanDiegan wrote on Apr 4, 2007 6:44 PM:A slowdown in population would be great and give our infrastructure some time to catch up. Yes, it's different here than it used to be. The area is much more international (good) but the schools aren't as great as they used to be (bad). Crowding is rampant (bad) and traffic stinks almost all the time. I can walk to the beach, the library and the store and my neighbors are nice (priceless). I tell our kids to look elsewhere (north, or another state) before they put down roots. I love San Diego, but it's costly and the quality of life isn't so great if you have to commute more than 5 miles to work. It's just not a place for youngsters starting their careers and probably not for us when we retire. Sad.
To JP wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:04 PM:I like your idea. I live in Murrieta and work in San Diego. I also work for a very big company. I'll ask the Navy tomorrow if maybe they can move some of their big ships to Temecula. R/ Gary
Outrageous! wrote on Apr 4, 2007 7:42 PM:I feel so pathetically poor living in San Diego. I earn a decent income,but the cost of housing is enough to make someone live under a bush. I used to be able to wear two shoes, now I can only afford one. Anyway, why don't we ALL move from San Diego Cty at the same time,and see what happen. Gee, it's dinner, time eat the bag lunch I got at the soup kitchen earlier today...tata for now
In response to "Bob" wrote on Apr 4, 2007 8:45 PM:"Hopefully this trend will continue." ???? Really? Bob, what's happening is very simple. Immigrants, many of them illegal, are moving in, raising the birthrate at that, and hardworking educated born & raised Americans are moving out. Many are just moving to Riverside, and in the future, Imperial County, and then coming here during the day to work, making our freeways a complete mess. And your response is "hopefully this trend will continue?" What are you smokin dude?
I cant wait wrote on Apr 4, 2007 9:09 PM:I hope gas prices top $8 per gallon like Europe and people have to live closer to work. It would be good for all the people and the envirnment.
Responding to "Response" wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:21 AM:Exactly how do illegals crowd the freeways - they can't drive - do they crowd us with they're walking - and let me get this - they are "moving in" - they are buying these almost million dollar homes and/or paying our huge exorbitant rents? Hard working Americans??? Oxymoron - all the ones I know are on their butts watching American Idol with a beer in their hand - ring a bell?. PS the new homeless are middle class white people and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRANTS
Housing Costs wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:26 AM:Could this article actually reflect greedy predatory housing developers and boomer greed at all costs (even if it means our kids can't live here?) We just continue to all want to be rich - who cares about those who fall through the cracks.
Sassy wrote on Apr 5, 2007 10:13 AM:Wow, thank god I don't live in north county with all of these racist ...! You guys should move to kansas where you'll find more people who share your views.
Re: Sassy wrote on Apr 5, 2007 12:51 PM:The majority of us are not racists. We are against illegal immigration. You're Kansas comment was racist!! I'm glad you don't live in North County either!!
Re: re Sassy wrote on Apr 5, 2007 5:20 PM:Actually you are racists.You know it when you start your sentences - I'm not a racist but...
Fed up wrote on Apr 5, 2007 8:55 PM:Illegal hit my car, ran a red light and made a turn in front of me, had no driver's license, no insurance, no nothing. Traffic, smog, high prices, homes built in mountains with no evacuation when fires come, all make this place very UNDESIRABLE. Our government did this to us, and easier to move on than to put up with fighting this, when you are a senior, and deserve peace and quiet in autumn years. GOODBYE SAN DIEGO COUNTY!
Murrieta Sucks! wrote on Apr 7, 2007 12:45 AM:I've read a few posts here about mistakes made when leaving San Diego to buy a cheap house in Murrietta, only to end up returning to San Diego because Riverside County has become such a haven for low-income hillbillyism and the uncultured. Wake up and smell the coffee, folks. You never have to exit the freeway up there to see all of the telltale signs of the low-life inner-city experience. Almost every square inch of freeway barrier wall surface up along that corridor is smeared with gang graffiti. It is so disgusting to see all of the oversized graffiti art defacing brand new construction. Why would any person in their right mind want to invest in a house in that kind of community...?
To : Murrieta Sucks! wrote on Apr 7, 2007 2:56 PM:Everything he/she just posted is an outright lie. I wonder what their agenda really is. I have been living here for 8 years and have tripled my investment in two houses. I just cannot wait until I retire from the military in 2 years and can spend even more time here. R/ Gary
Gary in Murrieta wrote on Apr 7, 2007 2:58 PM:It is a well known fact that Illegal Aliens do not return their census forms. Does anyone really think that they would fill out any form and tell the government anything about themselves.
Ivan wrote on Apr 7, 2007 5:48 PM:Has it occured to anyone that maybe the reasons for overpopulation is that we keep having so many children? I'm European and I don't understand families in big cities in the United States... When do you go to the park? Or to the zoo? Or horseback riding? What kind of life will you be giving your offspring in such a hectic environment? PLUS you are kicking the productive, currently capable of improving the economy people out! Children cost A LOT of money to everyone... It's not just the immigrants, it's the culture here. Everyone that is married wants kids... EVERYONE has a car too... and EVERYONE works at the same times, the same days... HELLO? What do you think is gonna happen? I live in Los Angeles and I don't know ANYONE that works after 6 pm. Why? Because banks close at that time, post offices, etc. So no one can even live after that time. So what happens in between? Everyone rushes to do everything between 6 am to 8 pm mon-friday and there will of course be TRAFFIC helou??? No matter how many people move out, if we all have the same scheadules and we all have cars and we all have children, there will always be traffic. The public transportation system is not as bad as people say. I take the metro and the bus everyday and it's a little bit ghetto but whatever, I rather put up with that than traffic... so that's not what causes traffic, it's american culture!
Soon-to-be ex-Vistan wrote on Apr 8, 2007 5:14 PM:We're outta here for one reason: we are American citizens as is our child, who will have no chance at a positive future with Latino gang-banging drug culture rapidly encroaching into our formerly middle-class neighborhood. We pay taxes, insurance, etc. yet, according to district lines, we'd be forced to send our child to a school where he'd be one of only two or three children in class who spoke English and perhaps the only one not receiving free breakfast and lunch at taxpayer expense. No Child Left Behind, indeed - unless they're American.
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement