Texas ranked second in the nation for total incoming residents and net migration in 2016, according to the Texas Relocation Report released by the Texas REALTORS®.

At 531,966 new residents for 2016, it was the fourth consecutive year Texas added more than a half million people from out of state. That total is slightly less than the previous year, but net migration was positive at 87,656 because of a drop in the number of people moving out of state.

Texas came in behind Florida and ahead of California for incoming residents but was behind both states in resident outflows for 2016. Residents who left Texas were most likely to move to California, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Colorado. About 55% of new Texans came from other U.S. states, with California leading followed by Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Illinois.

“Despite slowing job and economic growth over the last two years, housing-market and population growth have remained strong and steady throughout the state,” said Kaki Lybbert, 2018 chairman of the Texas REALTORS®. “With more than half a million people moving here each year, it’s evident that the Lone Star State fosters a positive environment for business development and raising a family.”