A move after a divorce is a decision about more than housing, and it is rarely made on a calm schedule. This page is meant to make one part of it easier: seeing where people move to and from in San Diego County, what to compare when you look at places, and the steps to check off, whichever way you go. The numbers describe everyone who moves, not people going through a divorce; your attorney and tax advisor guide the rest.
Divorce and Housing
Moving After a Divorce in San Diego County: What to Compare
Where people move within and beyond San Diego County, what to weigh when you compare places, and a checklist for whichever way you go. General information, not legal or tax advice.
The big picture
The county ledger
Two public sources, the IRS and the Census Bureau, count moves into and out of San Diego County.
Arrivals and departures, 2022–2023
People counted on tax returns (adults and their dependents) whose address changed between counties; grouped by where they came from or went. Source: IRS Statistics of Income.
| Where from or to | Moved in 2022–2023 | Moved out 2022–2023 | Net 2022–2023 | Net 2021–2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other California counties | 44,138 | 40,714 | +3,424 | +2,646 |
| Other states | 61,537 | 83,686 | −22,149 | −30,475 |
| Other countries | 4,459 | 3,946 | +513 | +964 |
| All moves | 110,134 | 128,346 | −18,212 | −26,865 |
Across 2022–2023, San Diego County gained about 110,134 people from elsewhere and lost about 128,346 to other places, a net of −18,212 (3.4% arriving, 3.9% leaving, as a share of the population).
The Census estimate, year by year
Estimates for July 1 of each year; “net” is natural change plus domestic and international migration.
| Year | Population | Births minus deaths | Domestic migration | International migration | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 1, 2022 | 3,279,089 | +12,497 | −16,848 | +13,358 | −3,490 |
| Year to July 1, 2023 | 3,279,736 | +12,357 | −29,397 | +17,945 | −11,452 |
| Year to July 1, 2024 | 3,287,542 | +12,517 | −22,231 | +17,665 | −4,566 |
| Year to July 1, 2025 | 3,282,248 | +12,462 | −23,876 | +6,132 | −17,744 |
Census population estimates add a longer view. In the latest year, to July 1, 2025, San Diego County had −23,876 from domestic migration and +6,132 from international migration; a year earlier the international figure was +17,665.
These are counts of people and households by place. They cannot say why anyone moved, and they leave out people who do not file a tax return. Small flows are grouped together by the IRS and not shown.
What to compare when you look at places
- The monthly picture on one income. Compare full monthly costs, not only rent or a mortgage payment: tax, insurance, utilities and association dues.
- Distance between two homes. If children move between households, the drive between them may matter more than the miles.
- Timing. A settlement date, a refinance or a sale can each set the clock. Ask your attorney and lender which date comes first.
- Renting first. A short rental gives breathing room while a home is sold or refinanced.
- Staying versus moving. If one spouse keeps the home, the property tax page explains how a transfer between spouses is treated.
From and to
Origins and destinations by county
County to county, 2022–2023, from IRS tax-return address changes.
Where people went
People who moved out of San Diego County in 2022–2023, by the county they moved to. Top 6.
Where newcomers came from
People who moved into San Diego County in 2022–2023, by the county they left. Top 6.
Both directions side by side
Flows under 10 tax returns are not published, which is why some cells say so.
| County | Moved in | Moved out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 8,425 | 12,708 | −4,283 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 9,296 | 6,906 | +2,390 |
| Orange, CA | 5,810 | 4,787 | +1,023 |
| Maricopa, AZ | 2,636 | 3,877 | −1,241 |
| San Bernardino, CA | 2,928 | 2,303 | +625 |
| Clark, NV | 1,829 | 3,142 | −1,313 |
Two neighbors dominate the traffic in both directions. Los Angeles, CA sent 9,296 people and Riverside, CA took 12,708. On balance San Diego County came out ahead with Los Angeles, CA (+2,390) and behind with Riverside, CA (−4,283).
Differences to consider
Compare before you commit
The things newcomers most often ask about, with a place to start on each.
The differences that matter
General information for orientation. Confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.
| Topic | What to compare | Where to look or whom to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Rent first, then buy? | If you are not sure yet, a short lease can buy time. Check current rents and compare them with the cost of owning. | The rent-versus-buy tool. |
| Selling one home and buying another | When the sale of one home pays for the next, the order matters. A rent-back or a flexible closing date can bridge the gap. | Your agent and lender. |
| Property tax | Buying here resets the taxable value to what you paid. From then on the yearly increase is capped at 2%, so the first bill is the one to budget from. In some states the bill follows the market year by year. | The property tax estimator; the county assessor for a specific address. |
| The kind of home | Homes here often sit on smaller lots, or are condos and townhomes, compared with what many buyers are used to elsewhere. The market reports show the typical value for each ZIP code and each type. | The market reports and your agent. |
| Getting around | Ask where your regular trips will go (work, airport, family) and time them at the hours you would really travel. If children move between two homes, time the drive at the hours you would actually make it. | Try the drive at your own commute hour. |
| Insurance | Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquakes, and flood is a separate policy. Get quotes before your contingency period ends so the premium is part of your budget. | An independent insurance broker. |
Checklist
A moving checklist
Practical steps for a move to the area, grouped by your situation.
A moving checklist
Print this page or copy the list. Not every item applies to every move.
If you are buying
- Sit down with a lender early; a pre-approval shows what you can comfortably afford.
- Plan for closing costs on top of your down payment, and use the closing cost tool for an estimate.
- After closing, watch the mail for a supplemental tax bill; it is separate from the regular one.
- Read the seller’s disclosures (the Transfer Disclosure Statement and the Natural Hazard Disclosure) and ask your agent about anything unclear.
- If there is an HOA, read its rules, budget and reserve study early.
- Get insurance quotes (homeowners, and earthquake or flood if you want them) before your contingency period ends.
- Expect a stack of signatures at escrow, including a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report for the county assessor.
- Book a general home inspection and a wood-destroying pest inspection; both are customary in California.
- Ask the seller about alarms and water-heater bracing, which California requires to be in place at closing.
- Walk the home one last time before closing to check repairs, appliances and condition.
- Re-key the locks, test the alarms and learn where the shut-offs and the panel are.
If you are selling first
- If you are coming from elsewhere in California: Find out what your current home would net, and decide whether the sale has to close before you buy.
- If you are coming from elsewhere in California: Before you sell, check with the county assessor whether Proposition 19 lets you keep your current property-tax base.
- Order the home’s permit history and gather HOA documents before you list.
- Ask for a market report for your street, then decide what to fix, stage and photograph.
If you are renting first
- Choose a rent you can sustain and set a date to reconsider buying, using the rent-versus-buy tool.
- Keep your lease handy and note the notice period, deposit and renewal dates.
For everyone
- Add up the whole monthly cost, not only the loan payment: tax, insurance, HOA dues and special taxes.
- If you are coming from another state: Ask a CPA how a move to California changes your income taxes, especially if you are coming from a state without an income tax.
- If you are coming from another country: Ask a lender what income and bank records they need, and how long it takes to document money coming from another country.
- Arrange mail forwarding and send your new address to your bank, employer, insurers and subscription services.
- If you are coming from another state: Check the DMV: new residents are generally expected to get a California driver’s license within 10 days and register vehicles within 20.
- If you are coming from another country: Set up U.S. banking, keep copies of your documents and learn how credit history works here.
- See the area on a weekday morning, a weekend and after dark before you commit.
- Explore nearby shops, parks and services and note the ones you will use every week; the local guide is a start.
- Arrange utilities and internet before move day and ask for a year of past bills.
- Line up a doctor, dentist and vet and have your records and prescriptions transferred.
- If you are coming from elsewhere in California: License pets with the city or county and learn the trash, recycling and street-sweeping schedules.
- If you are coming from another state: Ask whether the home has air conditioning and how it stays comfortable; some coastal homes do not have it.
How Rudy can help
Rudy Flores, Real Estate Strategist with Coldwell Banker West, works with people in the middle of a divorce and can help with the housing side: what a home would sell for, what it would cost to keep, and what your other options would cost. He works alongside your attorney and lender, not in place of them.
Tell him where things stand and what you need first. He will send the numbers, with no pressure.
Common questions
Does this data show where divorced people move?
No. It counts everyone who moves, by county and state, and cannot say why. It is a backdrop for comparing places.
Should I rent or buy after a divorce?
That depends on your finances and timing. The rent-versus-buy tool compares costs, and your lender can tell you what you would qualify for.
Who decides when the house is sold?
The court, the settlement and your attorney do. Rudy helps with the market side once a decision is made.
A note on what this is
A word about what this is: a plain-English summary of public data and general California practice, written by a real estate agent (Rudy Flores, CalDRE #02257808, Coldwell Banker West). It says nothing about why any person or household moved. For advice about taxes, immigration or legal questions, please speak with a licensed professional.
Keep exploring
- The divorce home guide — Selling, keeping or buying out.
- Permits when one spouse keeps the home — What to check on the property.
- Rent versus buy — Compare the costs.
- Moving cost planner — Estimate the cost of the move itself.
- Keeping the Home in a Divorce: Property Tax Basics — How the property tax bill works after a purchase.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Rodrigo Ballon with CrossCountry Mortgage, at 858-735-0255. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Sources
- IRS Statistics of Income: migration data (county-to-county flows)
- U.S. Census Bureau: county population totals and components of change, 2020–2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020–2024, table B07001 (geographic mobility)
General information for orientation, not legal, tax, financial or appraisal advice. Details change; confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.