People Moving To Hurricane Centers

According to new Census data, migration to southern states continues despite growing dangerous weather events and higher insurance costs in those areas. The news analysis covers 2020 to 2024, so if migration back north had begun, it would have started at the end of that period.

Raleigh, NC, and Austin gained the most people per capita, at 10.2% each. Raleigh is inland from the Atlantic, which gives it some protection. However, Hurricane Helene did significant damage just west of it.

Drought Grows

Austin is plagued by drought, which has worsened as the city has grown. It also borders areas of Texas which have had among the worst wildfires.

Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami are the most puzzling cities in terms of rising population and dangerous weather. While the West Coast of Florida was hardest hit by storms last year, each city on the list is in the potential path of Atlantic storms. 

Low Tax Rates

Another puzzle is that people moving to the cities, particularly in Florida, face rapidly rising insurance rates. In some areas of this region, people cannot get residential insurance. This tends to bring down home values and increase the annual cost of living for those who remain residents.

Florida’s low tax rate and warm winters offset weather risks for many.

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