Local 3 News has a story about the most recent CRER white paper looking at domestic migration into and out of the Chattanooga metro region:
A new UTC study shows California leads all out-of-state origins for people moving to the Chattanooga area, reflecting a broader trend of migration to the Scenic City driven by affordability, quality of life and economic opportunity.
The report from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Center for Regional Economic Research found most newcomers to the Chattanooga area still come from elsewhere in Tennessee. But among people relocating from outside the state, California ranked first.
CRER director Howard Wall, who authored the study said he expected migration from large states but was surprised by how clearly California stood out.
“California is gigantic,” Wall said, noting the state’s population size contributes to the trend.
Wall said migration remains a key driver of economic growth in the Chattanooga area.
“You can’t have economic growth without more people moving in,” he said.