Los Angeles County has become the leader in population loss, as 53,000 residents moved out of the county in one year.
According to U.S. Census data, 53,421 people left the city between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. Since 2020, the city’s population has dropped from nearly 10 million residents to about 9.7 million.
“It isn’t just one factor, it’s the breaking point phenomenon. The taxes, the lack of safety, the red tape,” Compass’ Chad Carroll told Fox News Digital. “I have a client from California whose home was broken into twice in the past six months. The whole political landscape there is destroying the state.”
“These are individuals who have spent their lives building businesses and wealth,” Carroll added, “and they feel that California has become a place that takes everything and gives back very little in terms of safety, infrastructure and opportunity.”
Other California counties ranked as leaders for population decline included Orange County, San Diego County, and Ventura County.
A report from pest control company Orkin found that Los Angeles was the “rattiest” city in the United States. For the first time, the report said, the California city surpassed both Chicago and New York. The report explained that the shift signals changes in rodent activities, “likely influenced by weather patterns, urban infrastructure and human behavior.”
Throughout 2024, California lost a net of 9,181 millennial households, a survey from Smart Asset revealed. New York lost the second-most, with 4,251. Illinois and Massachusetts also lost a significant number of millennial residents.
