From Los Angeles To Las Vegas: An LAist/KNPR Simulcast
The metropolitan Las Vegas area continues to be a popular destination for folks looking to leave Southern California.
According to an analysis from the online real estate brokerage Redfin at the end of 2023, Las Vegas is the number two spot that people using their services are looking to move — and the majority of people looking to do so are coming from L.A. In 2020, according to Nevada DMV data reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, 43% of out-of-state driver licenses surrendered when obtaining a Nevada license were from California.
So, why are so many people leaving the Golden State for the Silver State?
Reasons vary depending on who you ask, but for many, it comes back to the cost of living — home prices in California are rising and taxes are high compared to other states, while Nevada does not levy an income tax and it simply costs less to buy a house. The median price of a home in Nevada as of November 2023, according to Redfin, was $435,000. In California, Redfin says the median price was $793,700.
This morning, two NPR stations are partnering up: LAist's AirTalk and Nevada Public Radio's State of Nevada, for a joint broadcast looking at the population pipeline between Southern California and Southern Nevada.
Guests: David Damore, professor of political science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and interim executive director, The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West; Michael Green, associate professor of history, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
