Blue Exodus: California, Illinois, NY-NJ residents buy homes in Tennessee development
Residents from high-tax states like California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey are purchasing homes in a new Tennessee development called River Gorge Ranch, drawn by lower taxes and affordable living. The development, located near Chattanooga, has sold 715 homes so far, with a significant number bought by out-of-state residents. This trend reflects broader migration patterns, as people leave states with high costs and taxes for more affordable regions like Tennessee.
- ▪Approximately 183 buyers from California, Illinois, and New York-New Jersey have purchased homes at River Gorge Ranch, surpassing the number of Tennessee residents who bought homes there.
- ▪Tennessee does not have a state income tax, which developers say is a major draw for residents leaving high-tax states.
- ▪According to the 2024 US Census, nearly 20,000 Californians and over 10,000 Illinois residents moved to Tennessee, contributing to population declines in their home states.
- ▪California experienced a net population loss of 54,000 residents last year, while New York continues to see more residents moving out than moving in.
- ▪Projections suggest California could lose four congressional seats and New York two after the 2030 census due to population decline from domestic outmigration.
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Metro exclusive Blue Exodus: California, Illinois, NY-NJ residents buy homes in Tennessee development By Carl Campanile Published May 3, 2026, 6:10 p.m. ET They’re hopping on the Chattanooga Choo Choo! Blue state residents fleeing their high-tax homes for greener pastures have gobbled up about a third of the homes in a stunning new development just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee — where there’s no state income tax. Buyers from California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey have bought a huge chunk of the 2,200 homes that have already been made available in River Gorge Ranch, according to developers.
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