For a state where folks are supposedly fleeing, Californians keep their homes for a long time.
My trusty spreadsheet peeked at one yardstick of longevity: Attom’s study on the average length of ownership for home sellers across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the third quarter of 2025.
This year’s California sellers owned their homes for 11.2 years, the third-longest nationwide, and almost 3 years longer than the 8.4 years nationwide.
Remember, California’s stagnant population is not about people leaving for other states. It’s largely due to woefully few Americans moving to the Golden State.
The longest holding period was in Massachusetts, with sellers owning for 12.9 years, followed by Connecticut at 12.7 years. No. 4 was Rhode Island at 11 years, and Washington state was 10.7 years. Curiously, these states have some of the nation’s most expensive homes.
The shortest ownership period was in Maine, with sellers owning for 4.8 years, followed by Mississippi at 5.7, South Dakota at 5.8, West Virginia at 6, and Georgia at 6.1. Note that some of the nation’s most affordable housing is in these states.
And California’s big economic rivals? Texas ranked No. 26 with sellers owning for 7.5 years, and Florida ranked No. 16 at 8.6 years.
Long-timers
The length of ownership among sellers is rising nationwide.
For example, California’s ownership duration in the third quarter was a record high in data dating to 2000 – one of 34 states to reach such a peak in the same quarter.
Why? First, the historically cheap mortgages of the pandemic era make relocation financially challenging now that rates are near historic norms.
Plus, the population is aging – older folks move less frequently. And pricey homes, which can dull the move-up market, have become a nationwide headache.
Looking back a decade, California sellers’ average length of ownership has grown by 2.2 years since 2015, the fourth-largest increase among the states and double the 1.1-year nationwide rise.
No. 1 was D.C., up 2.9 years, then North Dakota, up 2.8, and Louisiana, up 2.3. Maine was the only state with a shrinking average length of ownership among home sellers, down 1.1 years.
Rivals? Texas was No. 29, with a 1.3-year increase. Florida was No. 33, up 1.2 years.
Locally speaking
The study also reviewed 114 U.S. metropolitan areas, including 27 in California.
Half of the 10 metros with the highest longevity were from the Golden State: No. 2 San Francisco (13.1 years), No. 3 Santa Cruz (13.1 years), No. 4 Eureka (13.0 years), No. 9 Ventura County (12.6 years), and No. 10 San Jose (12.5 years).
Longest ownership tenure in U.S.? Barnstable, Massachusetts, at 14.4 years. Shortest? Provo, Utah, at 6.9 years.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
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