Thousands More People Are Moving In Than Out of Fire- and Flood-Prone America, Fueled by Migration to Texas and Florida

Rhea-AI Summary

Redfin's report reveals significant migration trends to fire- and flood-prone areas in the U.S., particularly in Texas and Florida. Key findings include:

1. High-fire-risk counties saw a net inflow of 63,365 people in 2023, with Texas accounting for 36.1% of incomers.

2. High-flood-risk counties experienced a net inflow of 16,144 people, with Florida contributing 53.5% of new residents.

3. California's high-fire-risk areas saw a net outflow of 6,937 people in 2023, reversing the trend from 2022.

4. Climate risk is becoming a more significant factor in migration decisions, with 8.8% of people citing it as a reason for moving.

5. Rising insurance costs and intensifying natural disasters are influencing migration patterns, particularly in California and Florida.

Positive

• Redfin's analysis provides valuable insights into climate-related migration patterns
• The report highlights potential market opportunities in areas experiencing population growth
• Data-driven approach helps identify emerging trends in real estate preferences

Negative

• Increased migration to high-risk areas may lead to higher insurance costs and property damage risks
• Potential for market instability in areas experiencing significant population shifts
• Growing climate risks may impact long-term property values in affected regions

Climate Risk Analyst

This report reveals a complex relationship between climate risks and migration patterns in the U.S. While high-risk areas are still seeing net inflows, there are signs of shifting trends:

• High-fire-risk counties saw a net inflow of 63,365 people, largely driven by migration to Texas.
• High-flood-risk counties experienced a net inflow of 16,144 people, with Florida contributing significantly.
• California's high-fire-risk areas saw a net outflow of 6,937 people, reversing the previous year's trend.
• Florida's share of migration to high-flood-risk areas decreased from 57.3% to 53.5%.

These shifts suggest a growing awareness of climate risks, particularly in California and Florida, where insurance costs are skyrocketing. However, factors like cost of living and family proximity still outweigh climate concerns for many movers.

Real Estate Market Analyst

The migration patterns highlighted in this report have significant implications for real estate markets:

• Texas and Florida are experiencing strong housing demand despite climate risks, potentially driving up prices in these areas.
• California's high-fire-risk areas are seeing reduced demand, which could lead to price stagnation or declines.
• Insurance costs are becoming a major factor in homebuying decisions, particularly in high-risk areas.
• There's a growing trend of climate gentrification, with some buyers (often cash buyers) willing to take on climate risks for desirable locations.
• New construction in high-risk areas, especially Florida, is focusing on resilient building techniques to mitigate risks.

These trends suggest a potential long-term shift in property values based on climate risk, with implications for investors and homeowners alike.

Insurance Industry Expert

The report underscores the growing crisis in the insurance industry, particularly in high-risk states:

• Many insurers are withdrawing from high-risk markets like California and Florida, limiting options for homeowners.
• Premium increases are substantial, with Allstate seeking a 34% average increase in California.
• Some homebuyers are forgoing insurance altogether, especially cash buyers in Florida, increasing their financial vulnerability.
• Insurers are imposing stricter requirements, such as more frequent roof replacements, adding to homeowner costs.
• The situation is creating a ripple effect in the mortgage market, with some lenders becoming hesitant to approve loans in high-risk areas.

These trends point to a potential restructuring of the insurance market in climate-vulnerable regions, with significant implications for homeownership costs and accessibility.

However, Redfin reports that recent shifts in migration patterns in California and Florida may indicate that residents are becoming more responsive to climate risk

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — Scores of people are moving to the parts of America endangered by wildfires, flooding and extreme heat—even as those dangers become more frequent and intense—according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

America’s high-fire-risk counties saw 63,365 more people move in than out in 2023. Much of that net inflow was people moving to Texas. But the story differs from state to state; among California’s high-fire-risk areas, more people left than moved in. That marks a reversal from 2022, indicating that people may be growing more responsive to fire risk in the Golden State.

The nation’s high-flood-risk counties saw 16,144 more people move in than out. Florida drove a large share of the migration to high-flood-risk counties, but a smaller share than it did in 2022, indicating that people may be growing more responsive to flood risk in the Sunshine State.

The opposite occurred in low-risk areas; America’s low-fire-risk counties saw a net outflow of 38,401 people in 2023, and low-flood-risk counties experienced a net outflow of 6,892.

This is based on a Redfin analysis of domestic migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau and climate-risk scores from First Street. Census migration data for 2023 covers July 2022-July 2023, and Census migration data for 2022 covers July 2021-July 2022. Redfin defines a high-risk county as one that ranks in the top 10% when it comes to the share of homes facing high fire or flood risk.

“Ballooning insurance costs and intensifying natural disasters are driving thousands of Americans out of risky areas, but those people are quickly being replaced by other people for whom climate change isn’t the top concern,” said Redfin Senior Economist Elijah de la Campa. “For a lot of Americans, things like cost of living and proximity to family take precedence over catastrophe risk, which can feel less immediate and more abstract. But the cost-benefit calculus seems to be shifting in places like California and Florida, where skyrocketing home insurance costs and an uptick in high-profile disasters have had a tangible impact on residents and made national news.”

Roughly 1 in 11 (8.8%) people who plan to move soon cited concern for natural disasters or climate risks as a reason, according to a Redfin-commissioned survey of roughly 3,000 U.S. homeowners and renters conducted by Qualtrics in February 2024. But other responses were much more common: Wanted more space (32.4%), lower cost of living (26.4%) and to be closer to family (16.4%), to name a few.

A Lot of People Are Moving to Texas, Which Faces High Fire Risk

Migration to fire-prone Texas fueled a significant portion of the national net inflow to high-fire-risk areas last year. Here’s the breakdown:

• A total of 97,535 people moved into high-fire-risk U.S. counties, while 34,170 moved out, which is how Redfin got a net inflow of 63,365 in section one.
• 35,175 of the aforementioned 97,535—or 36.1%—were people who moved to Texas. That’s up from 28.7% in 2022. All in all, high-fire-risk counties in Texas saw a net inflow of 30,156—a big chunk of the nationwide net inflow.

Texas is home to five of the 10 high-fire-risk counties that saw the largest net inflows of people last year. Four of those counties are located in the area surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth, which is home to a lot of state park land.

County	State county is in	Net inflow (2023)	Share of homes facing high fire risk
Riverside County	California	7,807	78.5%
Parker County	Texas	6,960	78%
Weld County	Colorado	6,254	63.8%
Douglas County	Colorado	5,465	93.7%
Hunt County	Texas	4,530	71.4%
Pima County	Arizona	3,823	72.5%
Grayson County	Texas	3,441	66.5%
Wise County	Texas	3,008	68.3%
Midland County	Texas	2,584	77.1%
Larimer County	Colorado	2,249	66.2%

Texas isn’t often the first state that comes to mind when people consider fire risk, but it had more wildfires last year (7,102) than any state but California (7,364), and actually did have the highest number of wildfires in 2022. Aside from California, the Lone Star State also has the greatest number of homes in the Wildland Urban Interface—the part of the country where developed land intermingles with undeveloped land, making it especially vulnerable to wildfires.

Flood-Prone Houston Bucks the Trend, With More People Leaving Than Moving In

Five high-flood-risk counties in Texas had net inflows of more than 2,000 people in 2023. All are just outside of Houston, which last month grappled with flooding and power outages due to Hurricane Beryl, along with sweltering heat.

Harris County, which includes Houston proper and also faces high flood risk, is an outlier. It saw a net outflow of 22,792 people last year. That may partly reflect families moving to the suburbs, which gained popularity during the pandemic as remote work allowed people to prioritize things like big homes and access to nature over proximity to the office. But there are also climate migrants—people leaving due to climate risk. Redfin Premier real estate agent Nicole Nodarse is one; she’s leaving Houston in August for Salem, OR.

“The main climate issue in Houston is flooding, but the major factor driving me away is the heat. I don’t want to go through another Houston summer,” Nodarse said. “But a lot of people are still moving here because they like the low prices and the politics. Homeowners insurance is becoming a big deal, though; it’s much more expensive than it used to be, and a lot of people who installed 30-year roofs are now having to replace them after 15 years because some insurers won’t cover the home if the roof is older than that.”

Nearly one-third (31.4%) of homes in Harris County face high flood risk, and 100% of homes face high heat risk.

A Lot of People Are Moving to Florida, Which Faces Extreme Flood Risk

Migration to flood-prone Florida fueled a sizable chunk of the national net inflow to high-flood-risk areas last year. Here’s the breakdown:

• A total of 219,799 people moved into high-flood-risk U.S. counties, while 203,655 moved out, which is how Redfin got a net inflow of 16,144 in section one.
• 117,574 of the aforementioned 219,799—or 53.5%—were people who moved to Florida. All in all, high-flood-risk counties in Florida saw a net inflow of 68,564—contributing significantly to the national net inflow. (The national net inflow is smaller than the Florida net inflow because the Florida net inflow was partly offset by outflows in other areas.)
• While Florida’s impact on the national figure is large, it has shrunk; Florida accounted for 53.5% of migration to high-flood-risk areas in 2023, down from 57.3% in 2022. This could be because people are becoming more aware of flood risk and surging insurance costs.

Florida is home to six of the 10 high-flood-risk counties that saw the largest net inflows of people last year. All six are located on the Florida coast.

County	State county is in	Net inflow (2023)	Share of homes facing high flood risk
Fort Bend County	Texas	15,757	39.2%
Brevard County	Florida	14,886	24.2%
St. Johns County	Florida	12,309	29.4%
Volusia County	Florida	12,284	30.7%
Manatee County	Florida	11,300	29.2%
Sarasota County	Florida	8,526	29.3%
Lee County	Florida	8,374	50.4%
Brazoria County	Texas	7,888	53.8%
Brunswick County	North Carolina	7,796	26.6%
Sussex County	Delaware	7,329	28.8%

Miami bucks the trend. Miami-Dade County, where 38.9% of homes face high flood risk, saw a net outflow of 47,597 people in 2023. That’s a bigger outflow than almost any other county in the nation. Some people have left due to climate dangers, but many have been priced out due to the surge in housing costs during the pandemic. The median home sale price in the Miami metro area is $555,000, up almost 75% from $319,000 at this time in 2019.

“Miami has gentrified. Many of the people who are selling their homes now are moving elsewhere because they can no longer afford to live here given the rise in interest rates, housing prices, insurance costs and HOA fees for condo dwellers,” said Rafael Corrales, a Redfin Premier agent in Miami. “A lot of the buyers in the market are paying in cash, which allows them to forgo homeowners insurance. That means they don’t have to deal with skyrocketing premiums, but it also means they’re on their own if a storm hits.”

Florida, along with California, is in the middle of a housing-insurance crisis. Many homeowners have seen their premiums skyrocket, and some have lost coverage altogether because intensifying natural disaster risk has prompted many insurers to stop doing business in the two states. The good news is that homes being built in Florida today tend to be more resilient than older homes because they must adhere to stricter, modern building codes.

“Prospective homebuyers are asking me a lot more questions about natural disasters and insurance costs than they were previously. About three-quarters of the sellers I speak to express frustration over recent increases in their insurance premiums,” Corrales said. “If you’re looking to buy a home in Florida, you should know that you can’t be close to the water without being in a flood zone. If you’re within three miles of the coastline, mother nature is going to pay you a visit. That’s the price you pay for living in paradise.”

People Are Leaving Fire-Prone California

While fire-prone America saw more people move in than leave in 2023, there were still a lot of people who left, and many of them left California:

• A total of 34,170 people left high-fire-risk U.S. counties last year.
• 17,357 of those people—or 50.8%—left California. That’s up from 41.9% in 2022, which may signal that people in the Golden State have grown more responsive to fire risk.
• Overall, California’s high-fire-risk areas saw a net outflow of 6,937 people in 2023. That marks a reversal from 2022, when high-fire-risk counties saw a slight net inflow (+763).

California is home to five of the 10 high-fire-risk counties that saw the largest net outflows in 2023. Two of those counties are in and around Napa, which has sustained significant wildfire damage in recent years, and another is north of Lake Tahoe, which has also been hit by wildfires. The remaining two are on the coast—one is next to Santa Barbara and one includes the city of Santa Cruz. Many of these counties also have high home prices, which may be pushing some people out of the area.

County	State county is in	Net outflow (2023)	Share of homes facing high fire risk
Ventura County	California	(6,754)	67.7%
Santa Cruz County	California	(3,455)	68.6%
Solano County	California	(1,965)	66.8%
Boulder County	Colorado	(1,919)	68.1%
Telfair County	Georgia	(1,455)	70.2%
Napa County	California	(1,339)	71.8%
Geary County	Kansas	(1,252)	63.2%
Lassen County	California	(1,179)	81%
Comanche County	Oklahoma	(1,057)	70.3%
Potter County	Texas	(994)	76.4%

“We live between the ocean and the bay, with the beautiful coastal mountains between, which means we have high fire risk, flood risk, and always the potential for an earthquake,” said Julie Zubiate, a Redfin Premier agent in the Bay Area. “I recently had a condo almost fall out of contract because Fannie Mae switched my client from approved to unapproved while under escrow. Fannie Mae decided the home's HOA wasn't protected enough from climate disasters. It took awhile, but we found a lender willing to take on the risk—but at a higher cost to my clients.”

Allstate, California’s sixth largest insurer, is seeking to raise homeowners insurance costs by 34% on average. That would impact over 350,000 people and exceed the 30% hike sought last month by State Farm, the biggest insurer in the state. Allstate stopped writing new homeowners policies in California in 2022.

“We’re getting a lot of transplants from California and Florida who are concerned about climate change,” said Kristin Sanchez, a Redfin Premier agent in Nashville. “Many of them are moving here to escape insurance costs that have become unaffordable.”

To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/climate-migration-real-estate-2024/

About Redfin

Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We run the country's #1 real estate brokerage site. Our customers can save thousands in fees while working with a top agent. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can have our renovations crew fix it up to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1.6 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 4,000 people.

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Source: Redfin

FAQ

What was the net inflow of people to high-fire-risk counties in the US in 2023?

According to Redfin's report, high-fire-risk counties in the US saw a net inflow of 63,365 people in 2023.

How many people moved into high-flood-risk counties in the US in 2023?

Redfin's analysis shows that high-flood-risk counties in the US experienced a net inflow of 16,144 people in 2023.

What percentage of people cited climate risks as a reason for moving in Redfin's survey?

In Redfin's survey, 8.8% of respondents cited concern for natural disasters or climate risks as a reason for planning to move soon.

How did migration patterns change in California's high-fire-risk areas from 2022 to 2023?

California's high-fire-risk areas saw a reversal in migration patterns, with a net outflow of 6,937 people in 2023 compared to a slight net inflow of 763 in 2022.

What percentage of migration to high-flood-risk areas was attributed to Florida in 2023?

According to Redfin's report, Florida accounted for 53.5% of migration to high-flood-risk areas in the US in 2023, down from 57.3% in 2022.