There’s something happening in places like Tennessee, and it’s not just the sweet sound of country music. It’s the sound of freedom ringing. The Volunteer State is rolling out the welcome mat for folks fleeing the high taxes, crime, and chaos of blue states like California and New York. And guess what? People are answering the call.
Tennessee, like Florida and Texas, has become a beacon for Americans who are tired of being punished for working hard. These are families who want to keep more of their income, live in safer communities, and raise their kids with their values intact. In other words, they’re tired of being told how to live by politicians who live nowhere near them.
Tori Venable, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, put it plainly: “Tennessee is proof that freedom works.” She’s not wrong. Tennessee doesn’t just talk the talk. It walks it. The state has no income tax and keeps property taxes in check. That’s right—no income tax. Compare that to places like California, where the income tax rate can hit a whopping 13.3%, or New York at 10.9%. And what do people get for those high taxes? Failing schools, rising crime, and roads that look like they belong in a third-world country.
It’s no wonder people are packing up and leaving. California lost more than 239,000 people between 2023 and 2024. That’s not just a few families. That’s a city’s worth of citizens hitting the road. New York lost over 180,000 people in that same time period. These aren’t just numbers. These are taxpayers, workers, business owners—people who help keep a state running. And they’re saying, “Enough is enough.”
Where are they going? To places that still believe in common sense. In just five years, Tennessee gained almost 400,000 people. That’s not a fluke. That’s what happens when a state respects its citizens and doesn’t treat them like ATM machines.
Now, some folks are worried that the people fleeing blue states will bring their bad voting habits with them. That’s a real concern. But as Venable said, Tennessee has a strong Republican super majority and a constitution that protects its no-income-tax promise. The state has its priorities straight. It welcomes newcomers, but it doesn’t want the failed policies of places like San Francisco or Albany tagging along.
And here’s the thing—Tennessee isn’t just offering a tax break. It’s offering a way of life. Families can enjoy the mountains, the music, and the freedom. They can walk down the street without fear, send their kids to schools that teach real education—not political propaganda—and live in communities where neighbors still greet each other by name.
At the end of the day, this shift is about more than moving trucks and U-Haul statistics. It’s about Americans waking up. They’re realizing that they don’t have to accept high taxes, endless regulations, and soft-on-crime policies. They can move to states that still believe in hard work, personal responsibility, and freedom.
Tennessee has become a refuge for those who want to live in a place where government works for the people—not the other way around. Let’s just hope those arriving remember why they left in the first place. Leave the bad ideas at the border and embrace what it means to be a Tennessean—free, proud, and grounded in common sense.