High housing costs are apparently driving residents from pricey San Diego County, Calif.
The population declined last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, for the first time in three decades. Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and several coastal counties in Northern California had smaller population declines last year. People also moved out of Los Angeles and Orange counties, but the two counties were able to muster modest overall population increases.
State housing analyst John Karevoll said he doubts the population losses are a long-term trend, nor does he believe they will have an impact on housing sales.
Other observers disagree with Karevoll’s outlook. "This is quite a change from San Diego's image as a dream environment, but now 43,000 people are saying no,” says William Frey, a visiting fellow with the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. “It's the price of the housing that's driving them away, so it's time to pay attention."
