Redfin Reports Americans Are Leaving Areas at Risk of Poor Air Quality, Mostly Because They're Expensive

• U.S. counties at high risk of poor air quality lost 277,740 residents in 2025—roughly half as many as they lost in 2021, at the peak of pandemic-era migration
• While air-quality concerns may influence some movers, affordability is a bigger factor, with Americans leaving expensive high-risk counties and moving into relatively affordable ones
• At-risk places gaining the most residents are Boise, Palm Springs and Lake Tahoe
• At-risk places losing the most residents are expensive coastal markets: Los Angeles, New York City and Orange County

SEATTLE, Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are moving away from places facing high risk of poor air quality, but at a slower pace than during the pandemic, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.

In 2025, 277,740 more people moved out of high-risk U.S. counties than into them. That's less than half the peak net outflow of 603,270 in 2021; the outflow has fallen each year since then.

Some places at high risk of poor air quality are bucking the trend. Boise, ID, Lake Tahoe, CA and Provo, UT gained thousands of residents last year, suggesting that affordability, lifestyle and other draws are outweighing potentially smoky air.

More people are moving into than out of U.S. counties at low risk of poor air quality—but at a slower rate than during the pandemic. Counties at low risk posted a net inflow of 296,342 in 2025, roughly half the 594,556 inflow in 2021; inflows have declined each year since then.

This is based on a Redfin analysis of domestic migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau (excludes immigration) and climate-risk scores from First Street, a part of MSCI. Redfin defines a high-risk county as one in the top 10% for the share of homes facing high risk of poor air quality—in other words, counties with 12.2%-100% of homes facing high risk. Migration data for 2025 covers July 1, 2024-July 1, 2025. Net outflow measures how many more people moved out of than into an area, while net inflow measures how many more people moved in than out.

Relocation trends are strongly related to housing costs. Many high-risk counties that are losing the most residents—including Los Angeles County, Kings County (Brooklyn), Orange County and King County (Seattle)—are among the nation's most expensive. Meanwhile, several high-risk counties gaining residents, like Ada County, ID (Boise) and Weld County, CO, are fairly affordable.

The slowdown in outmigration also reflects the fading pandemic-era exodus from major job hubs. Santa Clara County, CA, lost 19,775 residents in 2025, down from 58,753 in 2021. Los Angeles County's net outflow fell to 105,471 from 195,168, while Kings County's dropped to 38,847 from 100,839.

Air quality is top of mind as wildfire smoke becomes more frequent and intense. For instance, the Spokane Complex fires blanketed much of Washington, Oregon and Idaho in hazardous smoke in early August, and Canadian wildfires spread unhealthy smoke through the Midwest and East Coast in July. It's possible air quality factors into some long-distance moves—perhaps for people with serious lung conditions—but it's unlikely to be a major factor for most Americans. Nearly all of the country is susceptible to smoke and/or smog at least some of the time.

"Wildfire smoke doesn't respect state lines," said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. "My family left Seattle for a small town in Wisconsin during the pandemic. We had many reasons for moving, but a bad smoke event was the final straw. Then the smoke followed us. This summer, Wisconsin and the entire Midwest had stretches of awful air from fires hundreds of miles away. That experience evolved the way I think about climate migration: You can choose a place with lower risk, but there's no smoke-free bubble to move to. For most people, the answer isn't packing up and leaving—it's adapting to a world where bad-air days can show up almost anywhere."

Air Filtration Systems Top Homebuyers' Wish Lists–and When Bad Air Moves In, Homeowners Should Use Them

A recent Redfin survey found that 36% of U.S. house hunters say a clean home—i.e. one with high-end filtration systems for air, water, etc.—is a must-have for their next house, making it the most common priority for prospective buyers. House hunters value clean air more than features including views, smart-home technology or luxury amenities like pools or gyms.

That's emblematic of the increasing prevalence of wildfire smoke across the country, and the steps Americans are taking to live with it.

Boise, Palm Springs and Lake Tahoe Are Gaining Residents

Ada County, ID—home to Boise and Eagle—gained 8,528 more residents than it lost last year, the largest net inflow among high-risk counties.

Riverside County, CA—where Palm Springs and Temecula are located—followed with a gain of 7,758, and Placer County, CA, home to part of Lake Tahoe, gained 7,074 residents. Canyon County, ID and Weld County, CO round out the top five.

Americans are moving into those places partly because they're fairly affordable, especially compared to coastal markets. The average median sale price in the top 10 is roughly $522,000, higher than the national median, but much lower than coastal job hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York or Seattle; some remote workers are still relocating to more affordable inland parts of the country. Many of those expensive places are at risk of poor air quality, too.

Pricey Los Angeles and New York Lead High-Risk Counties Losing Residents

Los Angeles County lost 105,471 more residents than it gained last year, the largest net outflow among the U.S. counties at risk of poor air quality.

Next come two New York City boroughs: Kings County (Brooklyn) and Queens County (Queens), both with net outflows of about 38,000. Two more expensive parts of California, Orange County and Santa Clara County, round out the top five.

Housing costs are a major reason why Americans are moving away from New York and California. The average median sale price across those five counties is $1.1 million, and the average of all 10 high-risk counties with the largest outflows tops $900,000—more than double the national median. And while movement out of those places has slowed, some remote workers are still leaving job hubs for more affordable parts of the country.

To view the full report, including a chart and methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/air-quality-migration-waning/ 

About Redfin

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin's clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent.

You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at https://www.redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit https://www.rocketcompanies.com.

SOURCE Redfin