On the move: Migration figures show old patterns picking up again

Los Angeles is drawing new residents from big cities in the Northeast and Midwest and losing people to less expensive cities in parts of the Sun Belt. But, as always, most of the people who move are moving around Southern California.

That’s according to new estimates out Tuesday from the Census Bureau, which tracks average annual migration between counties around the country.

They found, on average, about 70,000 people a year between 2008 and 2012 moved between Los Angeles and Orange counties, about 61,000 moved between Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties and just under 40,000 moved between Los Angeles and Riverside counties. In all three cases, more people migrated out of Los Angeles County than into it, though those migrations were slower than between 2006 and 2010, when the housing market was busier.

Migration slowed across much of the country during the recession, and hasn’t really picked up since, demographers and housing market watchers say.

Still, people are moving, some even long distances. About 8,500 people per year moved to Los Angeles from the New York metro area -- the biggest origin point outside of Southern California -- according to analysis of the numbers by Trulia chief economist Jed Trulia. Los Angeles also gained more migrants than it lost from Cook County, Ill., (Chicago) and Suffolk County, Mass. (Boston)

About 10,000 per year moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas -- more than came the other way -- the most of any destination beyond the Southland. The Phoenix and Houston areas remained popular spots for people leaving Southern California as well.

International immigration remains a much bigger source of net new residents for Los Angeles than moves from other parts of the United States On average, 35,000 people came to Los Angeles each year from Asia, 15,000 from Central America and about 8,000 from Europe, though data was not available for outbound international moves.

Keep an eye on housing and real estate in Southern California. Follow me on Twitter at @bytimlogan.