For the first time since 2019, more Americans are moving out of rather than into the nation’s flood-prone areas.
High-risk flood counties are defined as those ranking in the top 10 percent in terms of the share of homes facing a greater risk of flooding. In those counties, the percentage of homes at risk of flooding ranges from 23.7 to 99.1 percent.
In 2024, coastal areas in Florida, Texas, New York, and Louisiana led the national net outflow of residents.
In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, more than one-third of homes are at high risk of flooding, and more than 67,400 people moved out than in—up from a little more than 50,600 in 2023—representing the largest net outflow among the nation’s 310 high-risk flood areas.
Harris County, Texas—home to Houston—experienced a net outflow of more than 31,000 people. Kings County, New York—home to Brooklyn—saw more than 28,000 residents leave.
In Orleans Parish, Louisiana, nearly 100 percent of homes face a high flood risk—the highest percentage in the country. In 2024, the net outflow was nearly 5,000 residents.
Additional high-risk flooding regions throughout the country include: Hudson County, New Jersey; Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; Pinellas County, Florida; Norfolk City, Virginia; Cameron County, Texas; and Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska.
The report indicates that most of these counties have experienced more people moving out than in for years, but in 2024, all of them saw an unusual acceleration.
“While many people are leaving flood-prone areas for affordability reasons, others are leaving because they have been personally impacted by flooding.”
More frequent occurrences of hurricanes, high winds, and heavy rainstorms were also cited as deterrents to living in those regions.
Florida condo owners are also being hit with additional assessments to comply with new building safety measures following the 2021 collapse of the Surfside building that claimed almost 100 lives.
A Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in May found that climate risk is the top reason Florida residents are likely to move but that it is not the top reason Texas residents are likely to move.
Among Floridians, the most common response was “concern for natural disasters or climate risks in my previous area,” followed by “want more space” and “for lower childcare costs.”
Among Texas respondents, the most common responses were “want more space,” “upgrade to a better home or neighborhood,” and “for lower rental/home prices.”
According to Redfin, the median home sale price across the 10 high-flood-risk counties with the largest net outflows is $437,239, much higher than the $376,026 in the high-risk counties with the largest net inflows.
