A woman who once swore by the California dream says wildfires, sky-high costs — and a crackdown on her Airbnb lifeline — pushed her to pack up and flee Los Angeles for good.

Natasha Thomlinson-Clark is one of thousands of Angelinos who have left the state in recent months, driven out by a variety of factors, according to newly released Census data.

The urge to relocate crept in slowly, starting when local ordinances and a risk of fines, forced her to stop relying on a short-term rental to supplement her income.

“I had an Airbnb in West Hollywood that was basically how I survived before,” said Thomlinson-Clark. “They shut down my Airbnb…[it was] very hard for me financially.”

Then came the final straw when the Palisades Fire forced her and her husband Luke to reconsider their living situation.

“Then the fires really — that kinda freaked us out a lot,” she said. “We were paying all this money … couldn’t get house insurance. We were basically sitting ducks with no housing insurance.”

“I thought, ‘what are we doing?’”

Within months, Thomlinson-Clark ditched LA for Charlotte, North Carolina — a move she admits was “a bit of a knee-jerk reaction,” but one that quickly paid off.

“We came straight to Charlotte … it was cheaper, it made financial sense to me.”

The couple snapped up a sprawling 2,800-square-foot home for $660,000 in May 2025 — a price that would barely land a modest property in Southern California.

“What you can buy here is ridiculous compared to California,” she said.

The numbers back her up.

Los Angeles County lost roughly 54,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, the largest population drop in the nation, according to newly released US Census Bureau data. Once topping 10 million residents, the county has now slipped to under 9.7 million — a steady decline with no clear end in sight.

Experts say affordability is the driving force.

Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner noted that LA’s housing affordability score sits at just 0.41, far below the national average of 0.77. Median rent in the county has surged to $2,709 — compared to $1,667 nationwide — leaving many residents priced out.

“Incomes in LA have simply not kept pace with housing costs,” Berner said, adding that many are “squeezed to the point where they have to choose to leave.”

That’s exactly what Thomlinson-Clark did — even if it wasn’t easy.

“I had never thought about leaving LA. If I’m honest, the fires were a big driving force,” she said. “I worked really hard to get to California — specifically, I picked California.”

She insists the move wasn’t political, still, the financial upside has been hard to ignore. After buying her first home ten months ago, she told The Post, she bought a second one last Friday.

“Money goes much farther here,” she said.

It’s a trend LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is watching closely.

“Los Angeles County’s population decline is a clear signal that we must stay focused on the fundamentals — public safety and affordability,” Barger said in a statement to The Post. “When people feel safe and can afford to live here, they stay and invest in their communities. If we lose sight of that balance, we risk losing the very workforce and families that make our region strong.”

Even so, Thomlinson-Clark hasn’t completely shut the door on the Golden State.

“Financially it’s better, but you do give up a lot,” she admitted. “California — it’s the sunshine tax you pay. There’s a lot to do in California.”

“Really tough to leave,” she added. “I can’t say I’ll be here forever.”

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Multiple wildfires continue to burn across western North Carolina on Monday, March 30, 2026.

A statewide burn ban is in effect across North Carolina amid increased fire danger and dry conditions.

NORTH CAROLINA ISSUES STATEWIDE BURN BAN AS DRY WEATHER FUELS WILDFIRE DANGER

POPLAR FIRE

The Poplar Fire in Mitchell County is about 350 acres in size and 80% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service on Sunday.

The fire, located 1 mile north of the Poplar community, is burning in an area heavily impacted by Helene, with downed trees contributing to increased wildfire intensity and risk.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Closed: The Appalachian Trail near Indian Grave Gap (NOBO mile 352.9) is impacted by the fire. Hikers are asked to exercise caution and follow all instructions.

TARKILN FIRE

The U.S. Forest Service said Sunday that the Tarkiln Ridge Fire, burning 5 miles northwest of Hayesville, is 407 acres in size and 90% contained.

The fire is now in patrol status, and firefighters will check the perimeter today to ensure it remains secure, forest officials said.

The fire was caused by lightning.

Closed: Leatherwood Road is closed for firefighter and public safety.

BLACK BALSAM FIRE

The U.S. Forest Service said Sunday that the Black Balsam Fire, located 14 miles southeast of Waynesville, is about 5 acres in size and 75% contained.

The Blue Ridge Parkway from U.S. 276 (mile marker 411.9) to N.C. 215 (mile marker 423.2) was closed to public travel for a time Sunday but reopened after crews made progress on containment efforts, forest officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

JUMPING BRANCH FIRE

As of 10 p.m. Sunday, McDowell County Emergency Management says the Jumping Branch Fire is about 175 acres in size with 0% containment.

The fire is located off Locust Cove Road and is burning north of Locust Cove Road and south of Sugar Cove Road in McDowell County.

McDowell County Emergency Management said about 200 firefighters battled the fire Sunday, along with multiple aircraft.

The U.S. Forest Service said Sunday that firefighters are prioritizing protecting private property and structures along the Highway 80 corridor. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, McDowell County officials said no structures have been lost.

Closed: Highway 80 was closed from Toms Creek Road to the Yancey County line. Residents and motorists are asked to avoid the area.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — As spring returns, so does the 25th annual Asheville Orchid Festival at the North Carolina Arboretum.

The annual show features world-class growers, curated displays, and thousands of orchids for sale.

NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM’S ‘SPRING INTO THE ARB’ RETURNS FOR YEAR 2

The event is part of “Spring Into the Arb”, a celebration of the return of spring featuring a series of activities. This year, a new and unique display takes center stage.

“We build this castle, and it’ll be a one-time thing, and we always create something special that goes with the theme. This year it was orchid kingdom,” said Graham Ramsey, president of the Western North Carolina Orchid Society.

This is an American Orchid Society-sanctioned judging event as world-class orchid growers and breeders present hundreds of carefully crafted displays.

NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM HOSTS BONSAI CARE DEMONSTRATIONS

Ramsey says growing orchids, while not a hard thing to get into, is an obsessive hobby.

“I started out with one orchid that belonged to my wife and next thing you know, we’re buying more, and it’s a very obsessive hobby, and by joining the Western North Carolina Orchid Society, we invite all orchid growers to come because that’s what we do, we sit around and talk about how to grow our orchids,” Ramsey said.