Moving to Texas from California: The Complete 2026 Guide

The California-to-Texas pipeline isn’t slowing down. In fact, 2026 is on pace to be another record year for families making the move from the Golden State to the Lone Star State, and the Austin area continues to be the top destination.

If you’re considering moving to Texas from California, this guide covers everything you need to know: the financial advantages, the lifestyle differences, where to live, including communities like Double L Ranch in Dripping Springs, and how to make the transition as smooth as possible for your family.

Why Are So Many Californians Moving to Texas?

The reasons aren’t a mystery, but the numbers are staggering. Texas has gained more California transplants than any other state over the past five years, and the Austin metro has absorbed the largest share.

Here’s what’s driving the move:

1. No State Income Tax

This is the headline. California’s top marginal income tax rate is 13.3%, the highest in the nation. Texas has no state income tax at all.

For a household earning $200,000 per year, that difference alone can mean $15,000 to $20,000 in annual savings. Over a decade, that’s the equivalent of a down payment on a second home.

2. Housing Costs That Actually Make Sense

The median home price in the San Francisco Bay Area hovers around $1.2 million. In Los Angeles, it’s north of $900,000. In the Austin suburbs, including premium Hill Country communities like Dripping Springs, you can buy a brand-new, 2,500+ square foot home on a large lot for $450,000 to $650,000.

You’re not just saving money. You’re upgrading your lifestyle. At Double L Ranch in Dripping Springs, families will have access to brand-new homes on generous lots with resort-style amenities that California’s housing stock can’t match at any price point.

3. Cost of Living Across the Board

It’s not just housing and taxes. Nearly every line item in your monthly budget drops when you move from California to Texas:

When you add it all up, the average California family saves $30,000 to $50,000 per year by moving to the Austin area. That’s not a rounding error. It’s a life-changing number.

4. Remote Work Has Made It Possible

The remote work revolution removed the biggest barrier to leaving California. If your job no longer requires you to live in San Francisco, San Jose, or LA, the question shifts from “Can I move?” to “Why haven’t I moved yet?”

Austin’s tech ecosystem also means that if you do change jobs, the opportunities are here. Apple, Google, Tesla, Oracle, Meta, and Samsung all have major operations in the Austin metro.

5. More Space, Less Stress

This one’s harder to quantify but impossible to ignore. Families moving to Texas from California consistently report the same thing: they breathe easier.

Shorter commutes. Bigger yards. Less traffic. More nature. Neighborhoods where kids ride bikes in the street and neighbors wave from their porches. It’s not a fantasy. It’s just what happens when you trade density for space.

Where Californians Are Moving in the Austin Area

Not all Austin neighborhoods are created equal for California transplants. Here’s where most families are landing, and why:

Dripping Springs (Hill Country)

Best for: Families who want top schools, space, and Hill Country beauty.

Dripping Springs has become the #1 destination for California families moving to the Austin area. The combination of Dripping Springs ISD (one of the top-rated districts in Texas), master planned communities like Double L Ranch, and genuine Hill Country scenery makes it feel like a different world from California’s suburban sprawl.

• About 30 minutes to Austin
• New construction homes from the $400Ks to $1M+
• 1,677-acre communities with resort-style amenities
• No state income tax + lower property costs = dramatic savings

Westlake / Bee Cave

Best for: Families coming from high-income California markets who want premium schools and don’t mind paying for them.

Eanes ISD (Westlake) and Lake Travis ISD (Bee Cave/Lakeway) are the traditional “prestige” districts in the Austin area. Home prices are higher, often $800K to $1.5M+, but they’re still 40-50% less than equivalent homes in Palo Alto or Manhattan Beach.

Cedar Park / Leander

Best for: Families prioritizing affordability and don’t mind being further north.

The Highway 183 corridor north of Austin offers strong value with new construction in the $350K to $550K range. Leander ISD is solid, and the area is growing fast with new retail, dining, and entertainment.

South Austin / Buda / Kyle

Best for: Families who want proximity to downtown Austin and I-35 corridor access.

The southern suburbs offer the most affordable entry points in the metro, with new homes starting in the low $300Ks. Hays CISD is improving, and the area’s growth trajectory is strong.

The Logistics: How to Actually Make the Move

Moving to Texas from California involves more than packing boxes. Here’s a practical checklist:

Before You Move

Your Relocation Checklist

• ✓ Visit first. Spend at least a long weekend touring communities like Double L Ranch, driving the commutes, and getting a feel for the area. Don’t buy a home sight unseen.
• ✓ Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Texas lending requirements are straightforward, but you’ll want to have your financing lined up before you start shopping.
• ✓ Research school enrollment timelines. If you have school-age kids, contact the district directly to understand enrollment deadlines and required documentation.
• ✓ Connect with a local realtor. A Texas-based agent who works with out-of-state relocations can save you enormous time and help you avoid common mistakes.
• ✓ Get a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of establishing residency.
• ✓ Register vehicles within 30 days (Texas vehicle inspection required first).
• ✓ Set up utilities: electric (deregulated market, you choose your provider), water, gas, and internet.
• ✓ File for homestead exemption once your Texas home is your primary residence.

The Tax Transition

• State income tax stops immediately. Once you establish Texas residency, you stop paying California state income tax on earned income.
• Capital gains on your California home. If you’re selling a California property, be aware that you may owe California capital gains tax on the sale, even if you’ve already moved. Consult a CPA.
• Property taxes are higher in Texas. Texas makes up for no income tax with higher property tax rates (typically 1.8% to 2.5% of assessed value). On a $500,000 home, expect $9,000 to $12,500 per year in property taxes. Even so, most families come out significantly ahead when you factor in the income tax savings.
• Homestead exemption. Once your Texas home is your primary residence, file for a homestead exemption. This reduces your taxable property value and caps annual assessment increases at 10%.

Setting Up in Texas

• Driver’s license: You have 90 days to get a Texas driver’s license after establishing residency. Visit your local DPS office.
• Vehicle registration: Vehicles must be registered in Texas within 30 days of establishing residency. You’ll need a Texas vehicle inspection first.
• Voter registration: Register online at votetexas.gov. It takes about 30 days to process.
• Utilities: Set up electric (Texas has a deregulated energy market, so you choose your provider), water, gas, and internet before your move-in date.

What Californians Are Surprised By (In a Good Way)

Families who’ve made the move consistently highlight a few pleasant surprises:

• People are friendly. Texas hospitality is real. Neighbors introduce themselves. People hold doors. It’s a culture shift that catches Californians off guard, in the best way.
• The food is incredible. BBQ, Tex-Mex, breakfast tacos, craft breweries, the Austin food scene rivals any city in the country, and the Hill Country adds wineries, distilleries, and farm-to-table dining to the mix.
• Outdoor living is year-round. California doesn’t have a monopoly on outdoor lifestyle. Texas Hill Country offers hiking, swimming holes, lakes, and 300+ days of sunshine. You’ll spend more time outside here than you did in California.
• The commute disappears. If you’re coming from LA or the Bay Area, you’re used to 60-90 minute commutes. In Dripping Springs, you’re about 30 minutes to Austin with a scenic drive through the Hill Country. It doesn’t feel like a commute. It feels like a decompression.

What to Be Prepared For

Moving to Texas from California isn’t without adjustments:

• Summer heat. June through September is hot, regularly 95°F to 105°F. But homes are built for it, pools are everywhere, and you adjust faster than you think.
• Allergies. Cedar fever (December through February) and oak pollen (spring) are real. Stock up on antihistamines and give your body a season to acclimate.
• Property taxes. As noted above, they’re higher than California’s Prop 13-suppressed rates. Budget accordingly, but remember, no income tax more than offsets the difference for most families.
• Everything is spread out. Texas doesn’t have California’s coastal density. You’ll drive more, but with less traffic and cheaper gas, it balances out.

Why Dripping Springs Is the Top Choice for California Families

When California families visit the Austin area, they almost always end up in Dripping Springs. Here’s why:

• It feels like what they were looking for. Rolling hills, oak trees, open sky, and clean air. It’s the Texas version of the Northern California lifestyle, without the price tag.
• The schools match or exceed what they had in California. Dripping Springs ISD is on par with the best districts in the Bay Area and LA, at a fraction of the cost.
• New construction is available. Unlike California, where new homes are scarce and wildly expensive, Dripping Springs has new construction options across every price point, especially in communities like Double L Ranch.
• The community is welcoming to transplants. Dripping Springs has become a top destination for out-of-state families, and Double L Ranch is designed with relocating buyers in mind.

Double L Ranch in Dripping Springs offers everything California families are looking for: 1,677 acres of Hill Country beauty, six builder partners, resort-style amenities, top-rated schools, and a location that’s about 30 minutes from Austin.