'Everything's shut down': Joe Rogan fled California in 2020 after a single visit to Texas — and people are still leaving the Golden State in droves. Here are the reasons
Comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan lived in California for about 25 years. He moved there in 1994 to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and acting, and lived in the state until 2020, when he relocated to Texas.
Rogan explained why he made the move in a recent episode of his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
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“Everything’s shut down, everything’s staying shut down,” he recalled the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in California. “All my friends that were in the restaurant industry were struggling. … They lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% of the restaurants in Los Angeles.”
Dissatisfied with the situation in the Golden State, Rogan began considering other locations. He was struck by the less stringent COVID-19 measures in Texas.
“I started looking out here in May [of 2020], and I went to a restaurant with my kids and they were like, we don’t have to wear a mask? … we could eat at a restaurant?” he remarked.
His family also saw how much fun people were having.
“Then we went to the lake, and people are playing music and jumping in the water and (my kids) were like, we want to live here!” Rogan recounted. “That was it. Two months later I lived here.”
California exodus
Rogan’s move mirrors a broader trend.
Data released in October by the U.S. Census Bureau on state-to-state migration shows that California has continued to lose tens of thousands more residents than it has gained, even though the pandemic has tailed off.
The state had a net loss of well over over 300,000 residents in both 2021 and 2022. Pre-COVID, annual net losses for the state were less than 200,000.
More recently, California lost an additional 75,000 residents in 2023, a year when "more states experienced population growth in 2023 than in any year since the start of the pandemic," according to a recent Census Bureau report.
Texas, meanwhile, by adding 473,000 residents, saw the greatest numerical population increase of any state in 2023. Florida was next in line, having welcomed 365,000 new Floridians.
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Why are Californians fleeing?
People move for various reasons. Rogan highlighted the less stringent COVID-19 restrictions as a key motivator for him. However, even though California's economy has since reopened, two additional factors likely contribute to this migration trend: taxes and the cost of living.
California has a state income tax rate that ranges from 1% to 12.3%, according to the Tax Foundation. There’s also an additional 1% surcharge for incomes over $1 million, often referred to as the "mental health services tax," bringing the top tax rate to 13.3%, the highest state income tax rate in the country.
Both Texas and Florida offer a more favorable tax environment, notably featuring no state income tax. This aspect is especially attractive to high earners and retirees seeking financial efficiency.
Moreover, the cost of living in Texas and Florida is generally lower compared to California, especially in terms of housing costs. This makes them attractive destinations for families and individuals seeking more affordable living options.
According to real estate marketplace Zillow, the average home value stands at $298,127 in Texas and $391,213 in Florida. In contrast, the average home in California commands a significantly higher price of $746,055.
One question, given that the outflow of California residents has proved durable, is whether destination states like Texas will gradually evolve in the image of arriving Californians, whose policy preferences are precisely what people like Rogan wanted to escape.
"The concern is that people are going to move [to Texas] and vote ... to impose the same sorts of laws here," Rogan said.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
