691,000 people moved out of California last year. Here's where they went.

About 691,000 people packed up and left the Golden State for elsewhere in the U.S. last year. About 691,000 people packed up and left the Golden State for elsewhere in the U.S. last year. Photo: Chris Dunn, Associated Press Photo: Chris Dunn, Associated Press Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close 691,000 people moved out of California last year. Here's where they went. 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Does it feel like all your friends are moving out of state? It's because they are.

We've got more than goodbye parties and U-Haul shortages as evidence: Newly released census data shows approximately 691,000 people moved from California to another U.S. state in 2018. About 501,000 people moved from another state into California over the same time period.

It's the seventh year in a row that more people have left the state than moved in, reports KNTV.

Where all the California refugees going? The No. 1 destination is Texas, which may not come as a huge surprise. For starters, it's a big state with the second-largest population after California. Jobs there are also plentiful — Texas added more jobs last year than any other state (the unemployment rate is about 3% in Texas).

But the second-most popular destination for ex-Californians is a bit more surprising: Arizona. Sure, the state has always been a popular destination for retirees, but perhaps the Greater Phoenix Economic Council's trash-talking campaign has been able to draw even more Californians to the desert.

ALSO: I'm SFGATE's 'Bay Area exodus' reporter. Now I'm leaving myself.

Here are the most popular destinations for Californians moving out of state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey:

Texas: 86,164 people

Arizona: 68,516 people

Washington: 55,467 people

Nevada: 50,707 people

Oregon: 43,058 people

Colorado: 28,288 people

Florida: 26,888 people

New York: 25,255 people

Virginia: 21,210 people

Idaho: 21,018 people

Even for those hanging on to the California dream, more than half are considering leaving, according to a recent UC Berkeley poll. As for why people keep moving out of the Golden State, there's no real surprise there: The high cost of housing was the number one reason cited.

Alix Martichoux is an SFGATE digital editor. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.