This Report explored residential mobility patterns among residents of California counties across four decades: 1985-90; 1995-2000; 2005-09, and 2015-19. We focused explicitly on highly educated residents (those with at least a Bachelor’s degree). We also explored in more depth the mobility within southern California counties by these highly educated residents. Some key results:
- Comparing in-movers to out-movers, in 2019 Imperial County has the highest ratio with nearly twice as many in-movers as out-movers with high education. This was not the case in earlier decades.
- Imperial, Madera, and Napa counties had the largest relative inflow of young highly educated residents in 2019. .
- Humboldt County in the northwest and San Luis Obispo County along the central coast have consistently experienced a relative outflow of young highly educated residents. .
- Ventura and San Diego Counties have consistently received a relative inflow of older highly educated residents.
- Orange County has consistently experienced a relative inflow of middle-aged highly educated residents. They have also received a relative inflow of younger highly educated residents, though this is weaker in the two most recent decades.
- San Bernardino County has consistently experienced an overall relative outflow of highly educated residents.
- Riverside has consistently received the largest inflow of older highly educated residents compared to the rest of the region. They also received a relative inflow of middle-aged highly educated residents during the 2000s, but not in other decades.
- Los Angeles County has consistently experienced the strongest relative inflow of young highly educated residents.
- Los Angeles County experienced a relative outflow of older highly educated residents in earlier decades, but this has improved more recently.
- Orange County has consistently experienced one of the largest relative inflows of Asian highly educated residents over time.
- San Bernardino County has consistently experienced a relative outflow of White highly educated residents.
- Los Angeles County has experienced a relative inflow of Black highly educated residents in recent decades.
- Ventura County has consistently experienced one of the largest relative inflows of Latino highly educated residents over time.