130,000 Residents Left Oregon Last Year to Settle in Other States
The number of people moving away from Oregon remains relatively small in terms of its population, underlying the fact that the state is home to the oldest population in the West.
According to census data, about 130,000 Oregonians left the state last year – about 3% of the population.
Arizona and Texas Were Popular Relocation Choices
More than 50% of the people who left the state in 2023 moved to neighboring Idaho, California, and Washington, but Texas and Arizona were the next most popular choices of expats. Each of those states attracted about 10,000 former Oregon residents.
Reasons for choosing Arizona and Texas appear to be more sunshine than Oregon can offer and more attractive income tax benefits, with no tax payable in Texas.
While no individual income tax is payable in Texas, residents pay a 6.25% state sales tax, and an average 8.2% combined state and local sales tax rate. Oregon does not impose any sales tax on its residents.
Oregon’s Population Remained Stagnant in 2023
The population of Oregon was somewhat stagnant in 2023, with a fraction fewer people moving into the state than moving elsewhere.
People choosing to move into Oregon follow the same pattern as those choosing to leave the state, with about 50% of new residents in 2023 arriving from California and Washington.
More People from Utah Moved to Oregon Than Any Other State
Utah gets the gold star for the most people selecting Oregon as their new home, while Arizona and Colorado also feature on the list of new Oregonians.
Overall, the state’s population decreased by 0.1%, or 6,000 people, last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a smaller drop than in 2022, when the population loss was 0.4%, and 0.5% in 2021.
Last year, Oregon recorded 4,200 deaths and 4.300 births.
By mid-2023, the median age of Oregon residents was 40.3, classifying it as home to the oldest population in the West.