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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Sunday, April 05, 2026

A growing number of Americans are reconsidering where they live " not just for lifestyle reasons, but for financial ones. New IRS migration data reveal a clear pattern: billions of dollars in income are moving out of high-tax states into areas where taxes, and often overall living costs, are lower.

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For higher-income households in particular, relocating can translate into five-figure annual savings.

But taxes are only part of a broader shift shaped by housing costs, remote work, and changing lifestyle priorities. Here's what the latest data shows and how to think about it if you're considering a move.

Comments

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Millions? BWAHAHA. You're a ------- trisomy, bruh.

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-04-05 08:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The fact that greedy rich folks would rather move than use their fortune (meaning luck) to help the lives of unfortunate Americans is not the unique story you think it is.
They would rather use their money to build higher walls than build a society where you don't need walls.

#2 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2026-04-06 06:46 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 5

"Millionaires are fleecing high-tax blue states"

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-04-06 07:08 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Posted by lfthndthrds

What, exactly, do you think you're crusading for?

You're like a Saddam dead-ender, fuming in a spider hole.

#4 | Posted by Zed at 2026-04-06 08:04 AM | Reply

"You're like a Saddam dead-ender, fuming in a spider hole."

Hi Zed:

I knew the senior DIA officer who coined that famous term "spider hole" when Saddam Hussein was located.

cdn.images.express.co.uk

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-04-06 08:18 AM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

The OP's interest in the internal migration for financial reasons of the US well-to-do is noted. Maybe LFT is trying to make a political point.

And regarding the spider hole, sorta, when the police found Charles Manson he was curled up in a cabinet under a kitchen sink.

#6 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-04-06 08:40 AM | Reply

"moving out of high-tax states into areas where taxes, and often overall living costs, are lower."

Not to mention their generally lower quality of life and health and education outcomes.

I guess people can enjoy counting their tax savings.

#7 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-04-06 08:43 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

They would rather use their money to build higher walls than build a society where you don't need walls.

That's always been the American dream.

The correct way to remedy that has been shown through income tax policy. A 91% top tax rate forced American business to reward employees for their work instead of hoarding wealth.

#8 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-04-06 09:32 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Not to mention their generally lower quality of life and health and education outcomes.

Why just last week shitler was telling states THEY should bear all the costs of daycare and medicaid and will need to raise taxes to do it since the US is too busy blowing all of our defense budget on what Israel wants.

Blue states will spend money on people and red states plain and simply won't.

Just look at Mississippi that would rather build a volleyball arena for Brett Favre's daughters college with welfare funds than spend that money on the poor people in Mississippi.

Yet the poor in MS will continually vote red over and over again and have rock bottom health care and education.

We could have had expanded child care, home ownership assistance and no war with Iran, but she had a funny laugh and a transgender person wanted to play volleyball.

#9 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-04-06 09:37 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2


The fact that greedy rich folks would rather move than use their fortune (meaning luck) to help the lives of unfortunate Americans is not the unique story you think it is.

Great idea, where in CA, is helping unfortunate lives happening?

Lumpers always whine about the poor, but the objective truth in CA is the money is going to lawyers, corporations and friends of the Democrat machine.
Which is why CA is looking at $148Billion dollars in Medicare fraud.

Could you help unfortunate lives with $148Billion? No you can't. Democrats fucked the duck in CA, it could be a progressive dream instead, its all been grifted and grafted.

#10 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:00 AM | Reply


"moving out of high-tax states into areas where taxes, and often overall living costs, are lower."

Has nothing to do with that.

People here started moving when they realized every dollar sent to Sacramento was going to some boondoggle to support their friends in the Government.
Then the SEIU throws out the "lets tax billionaires unearned income" ... well people can see the writing on the wall, eventually it will come for them.

Its a beautiful State, living off the fumes of the 50-80s, Hollywood's is now distributed, Silicon Valley is distributed. If this is the progressive dream of a state, then why hire a PR firm to fix its image? What I have a hard time understanding is, Hollywood is doing terrible, why would the State hire a PR firm in NYC? Seems sort of looney.

#11 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:08 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Not to mention their generally lower quality of life and health and education outcomes.

CA is competing with Alabama for educational outcomes.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:09 AM | Reply

Lfthndcuck is like 'woooowwwz mIllIoNs! Like a gazzilion!"

Meanwhile, it's something like 1.3%...

#13 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-06 10:11 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

CA is competing with Alabama for educational outcomes.
POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Metrics?

#14 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-04-06 10:16 AM | Reply

The article points more to affordability than taxes as the primary driver of the decision to move.

It's always been an ebb and flow and there are always these cycles in motion.

#15 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-06 10:16 AM | Reply

"Not to mention their generally lower quality of life and health and education outcomes."

I don't know if the folks making a good income moving to a more affordable state are concerned about a lower quality of life, health, or poor education.

Education, housing, and healthcare are found in pockets......both good and bad. Folks who want those things seek it out and find it.

There are pockets of high quality education, housing, and healthcare in those red states. Folks will find them.

#16 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-06 10:26 AM | Reply

Here's

California's population grew 0.4% in the last decade.

The number of state employees grew 24.5%.

Total state spending grew 48%, inflation adjusted.

You have to ask - where did all the money go?


Metrics?
#14 | POSTED BY DOC_SARVIS

Surprised you're so out of touch with America's education system, not that facts will change your mind.

nces.ed.gov

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:26 AM | Reply


There are pockets of high quality education, housing, and healthcare in those red states. Folks will find them.
#16 | POSTED BY EBERLY

Just like in CA, parents with means will send their kids to Catholic or private schools.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:27 AM | Reply

#17
Thanks for confirming your status as a bozo.
Your prize is in the mail.

#19 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-04-06 10:30 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The article points more to affordability than taxes as the primary driver of the decision to move.

It makes no sense that people with homes would leave. That is the largest affordability issue. Sure prices for groceries and gas have gone up and for lots of people they have made cutbacks. I just think people are sick of seeing the tax money not going to good use.

But the State/County collects taxes for just about everything. County parks, State parks, Boats, Planes, Gas, Bridge tolls.

My business license that my daughter uses to sell used toys/books from home has a "work from home fee" of $256, $800 just to have a corporation. But these aren't new.

#20 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 10:33 AM | Reply

Here;s a typical bill in CA for support building new homes ... I have seen this in SFO as well.

Starts out all great..

Governor Newsom signs into law groundbreaking reforms to build more housing, boost affordability
www.gov.ca.gov

Turns out a VMT Fee can be imposed on every Unit. What is a A Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) tax, also known as a mileage-based user fee or road usage charge, is a fee drivers pay based on the number of miles they drive, rather than the amount of gasoline they consume. It is proposed to replace or supplement shrinking gas tax revenues, as electric and fuel-efficient vehicles pay less in traditional fuel taxes

Seems reasonable right ... but then the Democrats in Sacramento tack on a VMT fee on all new housing?

The provision, Section 58 in AB 130, would allow local agencies to impose Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fees that operate like hidden taxes on new housing across the state. The de facto taxes could potentially add $16,000 per unit/year and would likely be passed on to homebuyers and renters. So $1,350 per month for 20 years for every new single-family home or $320000+ over the twenty years.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

The other thing you might note about AB130 is how long it is, imagine the lawyers a developer needs to understand and navigate just this bill. That alone is overhead tacked onto every house built.

But this is typical YIMBY in CA, everyone gets their two cents (DEI, Environment etc etc) in the bill and it becomes impossible to build.

This is how you kill building new housing.

#21 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-06 11:10 AM | Reply

Education, housing, and healthcare are found in pockets......both good and bad.

Entrenching those pockets, both good and bad, is the life's work of Republicans.

It's probably the most clear cut example of how the functional definition of conservatism is "resistance to change."

Nothing to help the poor.
Nothing to harm the rich.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-06 11:16 AM | Reply

Trump's plan:
1.5 TRILLION for the Military.
Nothing for We the People.

#23 | Posted by YAV at 2026-04-06 11:25 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

Trumpf's plan:
1.5 TRILLION for the Military.
Nothing for We the People.

#23 | Posted by YAV at 2026-04-06 11:25 AM |Flag: We have to protect the oligarchs while defending Israel

#24 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-04-06 11:49 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Great point, Coriolanus.
I said too little.
Rich Uncle Pennybags reminded me.

Trump's plan:
1.5 TRILLION for the Military.
MORE Tax cuts for the million and billion aires
Cuts to programs and help for We the People.

#25 | Posted by YAV at 2026-04-06 01:11 PM | Reply

@Martinldart

MAGAts leaving California: "I was able to build equity in my California home because of high California wages, then use all the money from the sale to buy a whole ranch in some inbred Jed state!

Oh, also, California SUCKS! It's a total shithole even though it made me rich!"

#26 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-06 01:29 PM | Reply

When people flee high tax states with onerous business rules and regulations the following happens:

AI Overview
Following the 2020 Census, seven states lost seats in the U.S. House of Representatives due to shifting populations, with each losing exactly one seat. The states that lost seats are California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. This marked the first time California lost a congressional seat.

Actions, in this case state's imposing higher taxes, etc., have consequences - in this case a population flight. Do look are recent news and see the flight to freedom is ongoing. BUT no worry, as the Blue states will either raise the taxes on the remaining to offset lost revenues, or they will have to cut programs and services...or maybe a combination of the two.

#27 | Posted by MSgt at 2026-04-06 02:51 PM | Reply

"Actions . . . have consequences - in this case a population flight. Do look at recent news and see the flight to freedom is ongoing." --Msgt

Cf. the Great Migration.

From Wikipedia (the link messes up):

African American "Great Migrations":
The original Great Migration (African American) from the southern United States to the northern United States (c. 1910"1930), sometimes called the Great Northward Migration
The Second Great Migration (African American) from the southern United States to the northern and western United States (1941"1970)

The geographic cure often comes with unforeseen consequences.

#28 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-04-06 03:07 PM | Reply

Remember the old saying: Follow the Money.

After years of Blue States supporting Red States with their tax dollars, maybe these folks are following their money.

#29 | Posted by TrueBlue at 2026-04-06 03:11 PM | Reply

"MAGAts leaving California:"

Just because someone can't afford to live in California, or there are circumstances that warrant leaving for another state......it doesn't mean they are a MAGAt.

It doesn't have to be political in any way. In fact, politics likely has nothing to do with these moves.

Jobs, family, etc.....it's not about politics.

I'm not shocked you see it being 100% political.

but.....we're talking about you.

#30 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-06 03:29 PM | Reply

People I know who left California did so mainly because:

They could afford a bigger house, more land in other states.

Other states are cheaper so working remote allowed them to make more money. Especially in states without income taxes.

People I know who came back did so because:

They discovered they were basically living in third world nations.

#31 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-06 03:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Also.

The thread says, "blue states" not "California".

Republicans have really trained their sheep to hate states where - at least some of the - tax revenue is spent back on the state and the citizens of the state.

#32 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-06 03:50 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I left California because I only ever went to California for school. Admittedly, it's an easy place to get "stuck" but eventually I moved back east to be closer to my family and I also wasn't a fan of two very Southern California things:

1. Ghetto birds flying overhead for hours, most every night of the summer.
2. Horrible dog owners who leave their neglected dogs in the yard all day to bark like crazy.

#33 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-06 03:56 PM | Reply

-Republicans have really trained their sheep to hate states where - at least some of the - tax revenue is spent back on the state and the citizens of the state.

You just proved partisans on both sides do this very well. The obvious animosity that's entirely partisan based is all one needs to see.

#34 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-06 04:06 PM | Reply

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