What states are people in moving to and from?

Updated May. 13, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, most people moving to Washington state came from California, Oregon, and Texas. The top states people from Washington state left for were California, Oregon, and Texas. Overall, about 204,400 people left Washington state for another state. Meanwhile 222,100 moved in from elsewhere in the US. Newcomers from other states accounted for 2.8% of Washington state's population.
Washington state ranked 12th among states in total domestic net migration, with a gain of 17,700 residents.

1 in 35

people living in Washington state moved in 2024 from another state

12th

Washington state's rank in net state-to-state migration (2024)
Along with immigration and natural population change, state-to-state migration is one of the three ways a state's population may shift. In 2024, Washington state had positive net migration with 27 states and Washington, DC.
California had a net increase of 17,000 residents with Washington state, the highest among all states. The largest net decrease in 2024 was with Idaho at -9,900.

Washington state had positive net migration with 27 states in 2024.

Net migration between Washington state and other states, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from Washington state moved to another state in the past year?

In 2024, 31.9% of the 204,200 people who left Washington state for another state moved to just three destinations: California (27,000), Oregon (20,400), and Idaho (17,800).

In 2024, people leaving Washington state most often moved to California, Oregon, and Idaho.

People moving from Washington state to another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How many people from another state moved to Washington state in the past year?

Of the 222,400 people moving to Washington state from another state between 2023 and 2024, 41.6% came from three states: California (+43,900 residents), Oregon (+32,300), and Texas (+16,200).

In 2024, newcomers arrived in Washington state most often from California, Oregon, and Texas.

People moving to Washington state from another state, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico

How does the share of people who moved from another state vary across Washington state's 39 counties?

From 2020 to 2024, Whitman County had the highest share of newcomers from other states, averaging 7.3% of its population each year. At the other end, Lincoln County recorded the lowest share, with 0.5% of residents moving in from another state.

The share of the population that moved from another state in a given year varies throughout Washington state.

Annual average of share of population 1 year or older who moved from another state in the previous year (2020–2024)

Migration routes between Washington state and other states (2024)

Migration routes between Washington state and other states (2024)
Residence 1 year agoEstimate
1.

California 

43,900
2.

Oregon 

32,300
3.

Texas 

16,200
4.

Colorado 

10,000
5.

Arizona 

8,600
6.

Florida 

8,400
7.

Idaho 

7,900
8.

New York

7,200
9.

Montana 

6,300
10.

Illinois 

5,700

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.