Net Migration by County 1994-2004
The map below helps sum up the external migration in the Kansas City area.
The blue bubbles represent net in-migration counties, while the red represent net out-migration counties.
Kansas City has the bulk of its net new residents come from nearby counties with the exception of the Lake of the Ozarks area which is likely gaining retirees from the Kansas City area (see detail map).
The out-migration flows to western and Sunbelt metros like Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta and Tampa-St. Petersburg are also clear.
In-migration flows from Midwestern metros like, Omaha, Des Moines, St. Louis, Chicago and Wichita are evident as is the flow of migrants from Orange County, NY (Poughkeepsie-Newburgh) we described earlier. Somewhat surprisingly, there is also a sizable in-flow from southern California as well. This flow has slowed in recent years from its peak in the late 1990's. Southern California's economy still struggled even during the robust economic growth in the 1990's. During this time southern California residents sought opportunity in other parts of the country.
Click on the map for a larger PDF version of the image.
Top Net In Migration Metro Areas
The top in-flow metros have a strong regional look. 14 of the top 20 in-migration metros are in Missouri or Kansas or are in states that border Missouri or Kansas. This indicates that Kansas City has a strong regional pull, as residents from other, often smaller, metros find opportunities in the Kansas City area. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY stands out. Further research shows that the vast majority of those in- migrants settled in Leavenworth County, perhaps indicating military personnel moving from West Point (near Newburgh, NY) to Fort Leavenworth. Link to the complete list of Metros
| Metro | In | Out | Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 14,572 | 8,609 | 5,963 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA | 11,307 | 7,063 | 4,244 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 8,961 | 5,643 | 3,318 |
| Topeka, KS | 12,496 | 9,442 | 3,054 |
| Lawrence, KS | 20,091 | 17,119 | 2,972 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI | 12,724 | 10,196 | 2,528 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY | 2,290 | 30 | 2,260 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 11,188 | 8,957 | 2,231 |
| Lincoln, NE | 3,447 | 1,774 | 1,673 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,661 | 2,051 | 1,610 |
| Des Moines, IA | 4,925 | 3,355 | 1,570 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 16,457 | 14,940 | 1,517 |
| Columbia, MO | 6,553 | 5,076 | 1,477 |
| Tulsa, OK | 4,520 | 3,352 | 1,168 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 4,127 | 2,962 | 1,165 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 5,338 | 4,332 | 1,006 |
| El Paso, TX | 2,103 | 1,235 | 868 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 2,684 | 1,958 | 726 |
| Iowa City, IA | 1,105 | 387 | 718 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 720 | 84 | 636 |
Top Net Out Migration Metro Areas
The top net out-migration metros also have a clear geographic component as most are in the West or on the Sunbelt. Many of the metros on this list are among the fastest growing metros in the country. These metros are likely seeing in-migration from throughout the country. Link to the complete list of Metros
| Metro Area | In | Out | Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 6,735 | 10,124 | -3,389 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 13,427 | 16,278 | -2,851 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,784 | 3,952 | -2,168 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 3,886 | 5,442 | -1,556 |
| Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX | 2,173 | 3,453 | -1,280 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 7,084 | 7,996 | -912 |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV | 3,006 | 3,899 | -893 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 852 | 1,603 | -751 |
| Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, FL | 111 | 824 | -713 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,580 | 4,282 | -702 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 2,991 | 3,651 | -660 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,471 | 2,091 | -620 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 194 | 788 | -594 |
| Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA | 325 | 881 | -556 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA | 611 | 1,151 | -540 |
| Tucson, AZ | 1,023 | 1,548 | -525 |
| Olympia, WA | 33 | 421 | -388 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | 1,758 | 2,128 | -370 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 48 | 408 | -360 |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC | 681 | 1,039 | -358 |