Moving From Seattle? Here's Where Most Residents Are Going in 2026

Introduction

Washington just passed a millionaire tax. Bezos already left. Howard Schultz just announced he's moving to Miami. And 95,000 local residents have quietly left King County since 2020. So where is everyone actually going — and should you be thinking about it too?

95,000 King County residents have left since 2020. Idaho is the #1 destination — cheap, sunny, and close enough to fly back for work. Texas is best for remote workers chasing space and lower taxes. Arizona is the top pick for retirees. Oregon works if you want to stay in the PNW. California is a career move, not a savings move. Not ready to leave Washington? Spokane, Wenatchee, and Sequim offer a middle ground.

Thinking About Leaving Seattle? Here's the Short Answer

Not everyone needs to read 2,000 words to figure out where they belong. Here's the quick version:

Still not sure which fits? Keep reading — each section below breaks down the real numbers.

Why Are People Leaving Washington State?

Most people don't move because of tax policy. They move because their life changed — remote work opened up options, kids grew up, parents got older, or they just got tired of grey skies and $900K starter homes. The taxes are context, not the whole story.

That said, three financial changes have made the math more noticeable for homeowners and high earners in recent years:

• REET (tiered since 2020): Selling a $3M home now costs $50,000+ in state transfer tax. Before 2020, it was $38,400. (Source: WA Dept. of Revenue — REET)
• Capital Gains Tax (2022): Gains above $250K on stocks and investments are taxed at 7%–9.9%. This is one factor some high earners weigh when deciding where to base their finances. (Source: WA Dept. of Revenue — Capital Gains Tax)
• Millionaire Tax — SB 6346 (effective 2028): Household income above $1M gets taxed at 9.9%. It affects fewer than 0.5% of households — most people planning a move won't feel this directly. (Source: WA Legislature — SB 6346)

For most people moving from Seattle, the bigger drivers are simpler: more space, more sun, and a home price that doesn't require a second mortgage on your sanity.

How Big Is the Outflow — Really?

The headline number looks fine. The real number doesn't. King County grew by 27,000 residents in 2025 — but 28,400 of that came from international migration. Local residents? Net outflow of 9,100. (Source: WA OFM Population Estimates)

That 95,000 figure is roughly the entire population of Kirkland. Gone. And the trend is speeding up, not slowing down. (Source: Redfin Q4 2025 Migration Report)

If you're weighing what this means for your home's value, our Seattle housing market report for April 2026 has the latest numbers.

NO.5: Texas — The Remote Work Relocation

Texas is the fifth most common landing spot for people moving from Seattle. It works best if you can bring your job with you. Texas added 391,000 people in 2025 — the biggest single-year gain of any state. U-Haul ranked it #1 for net inbound moves two years straight. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2025 | U-Haul Growth Index 2025)

Why Washington residents choose Texas:

• Zero state income tax, zero capital gains tax — Washington charges 7%–9.9% CGT plus the new millionaire tax. Texas charges zero. (Source: Tax Foundation 2025)
• Tech jobs are moving south: Tesla, Oracle, and Apple are growing in Austin. HP and Toyota North America are based in Dallas. Ken Fisher moved his entire company from Camas, WA to Texas in 2023 to escape Washington's CGT.
• Your money goes a lot further: Bellevue's median is $1.5M. In Plano, TX, that buys a 3,000+ sq ft newer home in a great school district. (Source: Redfin — Plano TX, March 2026)

The Texas trade-off you must calculate:

Texas property tax often tops 2.5%. On an $800K home, that's $20,000 per year. The "zero income tax" savings get partly eaten up. Run the full numbers before you move. (Source: Tax Foundation 2025 — Property Taxes by State)

Best fit for: Remote tech workers, high-income earners avoiding CGT, and families who want more house for less money.

NO.4: Arizona — The Retirement Magnet

Arizona pulled in 62,500 net domestic migrants in 2023 — ranked 5th nationally. Washington sent nearly 13,000 of them. (Source: Arizona's Economy — Census Analysis, Dec 2024) The crowd is different from Texas — Phoenix and Scottsdale mostly attract retirees and near-retirees.

If you're still weighing whether to stay in Washington, our guide on the best cities to retire in Washington State covers in-state options worth comparing first.

Three reasons Arizona wins for retirees:

• Property tax is much lower. Arizona's effective rate is about 0.44%. King County's is 0.84% — nearly double. On a $600K home, that's $2,600/year in Phoenix vs. $5,000–$6,000 in King County. Over 10 years, you save roughly $30,000. (Source: Tax Foundation 2025 — Property Taxes by State)
• The Senior Freeze. Arizona lets homeowners 65+ freeze their home's assessed value for 3 years — renewable. Even if Phoenix prices spike, your tax bill stays put. Washington has nothing like this. (Source: AZ Dept. of Revenue — Senior Valuation Protection)
• Sunshine — a lot of it. Arizona gets 300+ sunny days per year. Seattle gets about 150. For retirees, that gap matters more than people admit. (Source: NOAA — National Weather Service)

Real client example: A couple sold their King County home for $950,000. They bought a brand-new home in a Phoenix 55+ community for $500,000. They walked away with $400,000 in cash and a much lower monthly cost of living.

Best fit for: Empty nesters, retirees on fixed income, anyone who wants low property taxes and warm winters.

NO.3: Oregon — The Neighbor With a Hidden Advantage

Oregon keeps surprising people. Its top state income tax is 9.9% — higher than Washington's. So why are Seattle residents searching Portland neighborhoods every month?

The answer is Measure 50. It's an Oregon law that caps your home's assessed value increase at 3% per year — no matter how hot the market gets. Your home could double in value over 10 years. Your property tax still only rises 3% a year. (Source: Oregon Dept. of Revenue — Measure 50)

Washington has no version of this. Here, a hot market year means a higher tax bill. Period.

Oregon's full advantage stack:

• Measure 50 property tax cap (3%/year max — every year, no exceptions)
• No state sales tax — everything you buy is 10% cheaper than in most states
• Still in the Pacific Northwest — same culture, same outdoor lifestyle, close to Seattle

Where Seattle people are actually landing: Portland ranks in the top 3 searched destinations for Seattle residents. Most end up in the suburbs — Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego. They get Measure 50. They skip downtown Portland's problems. (Source: Redfin Q4 2025 Migration Report)

Best fit for: Retirees and fixed-income families who want to lock in costs; anyone who doesn't want to leave the Pacific Northwest.

NO.2: California — The Surprising Reverse Migration

California is the #1 destination for Washington residents leaving the state. Yes, really. A decade ago, Californians were flooding into Seattle. Now the flow has quietly reversed. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau — State-to-State Migration 2023)

Moving to California isn't a money-saving move. It's a career and lifestyle decision. The income tax tops out at 13.3% — highest in the country. But for the right person, the trade-off makes sense.

Where Seattle people are actually landing — and why:

• Bay Area (San Jose / San Francisco) — Career acceleration. If you're in AI, biotech, venture-backed startups, or deep tech, the Bay Area is still the center of gravity. Salaries are higher, but so is everything else. Median home price in San Jose is around $1.4M. Works best if your household income is $250K+ and you're at a growth stage in your career.
• Irvine / Orange County — Family relocation with an Asian community. Irvine is consistently ranked one of the safest cities in the U.S. Strong school system, large Chinese-American community, and a suburban feel that's familiar to Eastside Seattle families. Median home price is around $1.1M — expensive, but comparable to Bellevue. Works well for families with school-age kids who want community and safety without city density.
• San Diego — Lifestyle move. Beaches, weather, walkable neighborhoods, and a lower-pressure version of SoCal. Median home price is around $950K — still high, but more accessible than the Bay Area. Common destination for Seattle people in their late 30s and 40s who want sun and quality of life over career hustle.

California's key financial reality:

Who might regret it: Anyone moving to California hoping to spend less. Cost of living is high across the board — groceries, childcare, dining, and utilities all run above Seattle levels. If your income isn't meaningfully higher after the move, the math won't work.

Best fit for: Former California residents going home; tech workers moving into AI, biotech, or entertainment; Eastside families who want a similar suburb with more sun; anyone in a career growth phase who needs to be in the room.

NO.1: Idaho — The NO.1 Destination Nobody Saw Coming

The biggest destination for people moving from Seattle is Idaho. Specifically the Treasure Valley — Boise and Meridian. Yes, the Famous Potatoes state.

Idaho was the #1 net inbound state in 2025 — two years running. Washington alone contributed 25% of Idaho's net domestic migration in 2025. That's a first in history. In Meridian, out-of-state arrivals now make up 38% of new residents — and most come from the Seattle area. (Source: North American Van Lines 2025 Movers Study)

Why Idaho has become Washington's most popular exit:

• Tax structure that rewards high earners. After Idaho's 2025 tax reform, the state income tax is a flat 5.3% — same rate at $50K or $500K. No capital gains tax. No estate tax. Plus the Homeowner's Exemption: subtract $125,000 from your home's assessed value before property tax is calculated. The base rate is about 0.6% — lower than King County's 0.84%. (Source: Idaho State Tax Commission — Homeowner's Exemption)
• Climate that feels familiar. Boise has four seasons — skiing, hiking, hot summers. It feels like Snoqualmie, not Phoenix. Most Seattle people adjust quickly.
• Remote work made it work. The direct Boise-to-Seattle flight is 90 minutes. Flying back once a month for office days is easy. Many Amazon and Microsoft employees are doing exactly that.

The numbers, run honestly:

(Source: Redfin — Meridian ID, March 2026 | Redfin — Sammamish WA, March 2026)

Best fit for: Remote tech workers, families who want more space, high earners who want a lower flat income tax, and anyone ready to trade Seattle density for a much better balance sheet.

The 3 Real Reasons Behind Washington's Outmigration

Look across all five states and the same pattern shows up every time. It's almost never just one thing.

Remote work unlocked the door. 

Without remote or hybrid options, most of these moves couldn't happen. An Amazon job in Seattle keeps you in Seattle. Remote work changed that. The Boise-Seattle flight is 90 minutes. Texas companies offer full remote. Many people are keeping their old jobs and just moving their families somewhere that fits their life better.

Sunshine — more than people expect. 

Seattle gets 150 sunny days a year. The other 215 are grey. One or two years is fine. Ten to twenty years wears people down. Clients tell me the same thing: "Two months after moving, my whole mood changed." Every destination on this list has more sun. That's not a coincidence.

What your money actually buys. 

Seattle's median home price is $865K. Bellevue is $1.5M. That same money gets you 3,000 sq ft in Meridian, a pool in Phoenix, or a newer build with a yard in Plano. For a lot of families, the move isn't about escaping Seattle — it's about finally affording the life they wanted. (Source: Redfin — Seattle Housing Market | Redfin — Bellevue WA)

If You Don't Want to Leave Washington — 3 Intra-State Options

You don't have to cross state lines to find a better deal. Three Washington cities are pulling in a lot of Seattle migrants — and for good reason.

• Sequim sits in the Olympic Peninsula's rain shadow. It gets only about a third of Seattle's annual rainfall. Home prices are roughly half of King County's. Retirees who love Pacific Northwest nature — but hate Seattle's cost — tend to love it here.
• Wenatchee is central Washington's sunshine city. It gets 300+ sunny days a year. Home prices are about half of Seattle's. The pace of life is slower. Good fit for anyone who wants a lifestyle change without leaving the state.
• Spokane is now the single largest intra-state destination for Seattle residents. Median home price: around $430,000 — half of Seattle's $865,000. And you stay in Washington. Same driver's license. Same tax residency. No hassle. (Source: Redfin — Spokane WA)

For a broader look at where life is more affordable inside the state, see our guide on affordable cities near Seattle.

All three offer the same things drawing people out of state: more sun, lower costs, and a slower pace. Our post on the 10 best cities to live in Washington State goes deeper if you want more options.

Final Thoughts

People are leaving Seattle for three simple reasons: remote work made it possible, taxes made it attractive, and sunshine made it easy to say yes. Idaho leads the pack. But the right move depends on your income, your lifestyle, and your timeline. Whether you're thinking about selling, relocating, or just exploring options — getting the numbers right matters.

Ready to talk through your specific situation? Schedule a free consultation with Maggie — let's figure out what the right move looks like for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington State losing population overall? 

No — but the headline number is misleading. King County grew by 27,000 in 2025, but that's all international migration. Local domestic residents had a net outflow of 9,100. The city is growing on paper while longtime residents quietly leave.

Does the Washington millionaire tax affect home sales? 

Yes, but only in specific situations. SB 6346 targets household income above $1 million at 9.9%, starting 2028. If selling a home pushes your total household income past $1 million that year, the portion above the threshold gets taxed — on top of any REET you already owe at closing.

Is Idaho actually cheaper than Washington when all taxes are factored in? 

Yes, for most homeowners. Idaho's flat 5.3% income tax, no capital gains tax, Homeowner's Exemption, and 0.6% property tax rate add up to a much lower burden than King County — even before you factor in the lower home prices.

Does Oregon's Measure 50 protect you from rising property taxes indefinitely? 

Yes, as long as you own the home. The 3% annual cap applies every year regardless of the market. When the property sells, though, the assessed value resets to current market value. The protection follows the owner, not the property.

Should I sell my Seattle home now before the millionaire tax takes effect? 

No universal answer exists — it depends on your income, assets, and timeline. The tax doesn't kick in until January 1, 2028, and only applies above $1 million in household income. Talk to a real estate professional and a tax advisor to model your specific numbers.

Maggie Sun is a Seattle-area real estate professional. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.