New data on migration patterns to Texas & Houston area (San Antonio: real estate market, income)

[CelesteDF]

Hi all - I normally post in the San Antonio forum but noticed there were several threads in the Houston forum discussing population and migration trends. I just posted this for San Antonio and thought I'd share the data with the other Texas metros.

Atlas Van Lines has published an annual migration index for the last 10 years, and a corporate relocation index for the last 30 years, based on the moves they facilitate each year. The 2007 migration index was published today, listing Texas as the top inbound migration state in the country. This study is not as scientifically structured as U.S. Census surveys and is subject to some sample bias due to the fact that moves facilitated by a major van line will probably undercount migration in the lower-middle and lower-income brackets. However, the sample is certainly large enough that it might be helpful to those trying to get a general handle on growth.

Atlas Van Lines 2007 Migration Study
News release indicating Texas is #1 inbound migration state: Atlas - America on the move: Atlas Van Lines announces 2007 relocation trends

Map of US migration patterns: Atlas - Migration Patterns
Downloadable PDF of state-by-state data (10-year history): http://www.atlasworldgroup.com/migra...n_Patterns.pdf

While they have not publicly released the data on a city by city basis, I did obtain a spreadsheet from them with all inbound and outbound moves for the state of Texas. After a quick sort and scan (i.e. subject to some small margin of error), it appears that the DFW/Houston and the Austin/San Antonio metro areas are about neck and neck when it comes to inbound moves. In a sample of 9220 inbound moves to Texas, DFW metro had approx 26.1%, while Houston metro had 25.4%. Austin metro had 9.5% of inbound moves and San Antonio metro had 9.7%. Approx 29.3% of inbound moves went to the rest of the state. I didn't look at the outbound moves but have that data as well.

If anyone wants a copy of the spreadsheets, feel free to DM me.

[alyce]

Thank you for sharing--this was interesting. It's interesting to see it in numbers versus guesstimation.

[EasilyAmused]

Interesting. But really I don't need any charts to know that its getting VERY CROWDED around here. Houston has changed so much in the past 5 years in its density. When I came back from living full time in xburbia I said," Where the hell did all these people come from?" But hey, it keeps our Central Houston real estate market chugging. Gotta love that.