BERKELEY (AP) – The popular notion that there was a mass exodus from California last year is wrong, according to research by a non-partisan think tank.
Most of the changes during 2020 happened within the state, the California Policy Lab said on Thursday.
SEE MORE INFORMATION: 2 dead, 3 injured after multiple shots fired in Yuba City’s backyard
Result 1: No, there is no mass exodus of people leaving California. Of the people who moved, about 80% moved to a new location in California, not outside the state. But, there are some nuances … https://t.co/8x3N3KAAuv Topic (2/6) pic.twitter.com/6pNa19ee4n
– CA Policy Lab (@CAPolicyLab) March 4, 2021
Withdrawals from the state were consistent with historical standards, but the biggest change across the state was fewer people moving to California, the lab said in a press release.
SEE MORE INFORMATION: Two 14 year olds shot at night along West March Lane in Stockton
The researchers used a data set of quarterly information from credit bureaus, called the University of California Consumer Credit Panel, to analyze where people in each county moved after the coronavirus pandemic a year ago.
“Although a mass exodus from California clearly did not happen in 2020, the pandemic changed some historical patterns, for example, fewer people moved to the state to replace those who left,” said author Natalie Holmes.
“At the county level, however, San Francisco is experiencing a unique and dramatic exodus, which is causing 50% or 100% increases in internal migration from the Bay Area to some Sierras counties,” said Holmes.
San Francisco’s net outflows between late March and late 2020 increased 649% compared to the same period in 2019. About two-thirds remained in the 11 counties Bay Area economic region and 80% remained in California.
MORE NEWS: Driver suspected of being drunk admitted to texting while driving on Sacramento highway. Accident that killed motorcyclist
Copyright 2021 from the Associated Press.