‘People will always be moving here’: Gee unfazed by drop in migration to Washington
Mar 21, 2026, 5:00 AM
KIRO host Gee Scott wasn’t fazed by fewer people choosing to move to Washington, even as The Seattle Times reported the slowdown is significant compared to pre-pandemic trends.
“In Washington, you have the potential to earn more, even with the higher cost of living. That’s why people will always be moving here; there’s still a lot of opportunity here,” Gee said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
The report noted the decline may be tied to several factors, including high housing costs, shifting job markets, the rise of remote work, and broader migration trends.
Gee said the biggest factor is no surprise: cost. Washington remains one of the most expensive states to live in, especially in the Seattle area, which may be pushing potential newcomers to look elsewhere. But Gee argued that while housing may be cheaper in places like Texas or Idaho, income potential matters just as much.
“You might get a better deal on a house, but what are they going to pay you?” Gee said, referring to people who choose Austin over Seattle for cheaper living.
The numbers provided by the Census show about 134,000 newcomers obtained Washington driver’s licenses last year, a drop of nearly 18% compared to 2019.
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More people moving to Washington from Texas
Texas saw the biggest increase in movers to Washington, rising from about 10,000 in 2019 to roughly 10,800 in 2025. Arizona also saw a slight uptick, with just over 7,000 movers, an increase of nearly 100.
Data shows California remains the largest source of new Washington residents, although recently those numbers have been declining. Meanwhile, states like Texas, Arizona, and even Maine saw slight increases.
Despite the slowdown, the overall pattern of migration to Washington hasn’t changed much. The biggest sources of newcomers remain largely the same — including California, Oregon, Texas, Arizona, and Florida, according to The Seattle Times.
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
