It is no surprise that the cost of living in New York City is one of the highest in the country. With rising costs, extremely high inflation, and more flexible remote work options, it’s no wonder that many people have decided to move to more affordable areas.
About 545,500 residents left the Empire State in 2022. Overall, in the U.S., 8.2 million people left their state and moved to another, a 3.8% increase compared to 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
So, where did New Yorkers go in 2022? And what has driven this emigration trend?
New Yorkers moved to neighboring states
Although most people who left New York moved to Florida (91,201), many relocated to neighboring states. New Jersey saw the second-largest flow of New Yorkers last year (75,103), followed by Connecticut (50,670) and Pennsylvania (44,807).
New York experienced a net population loss of 244,000 people, despite more people moving to the state in 2022 than in any year in the last decade, according to the Census Bureau.
Which states did New Yorkers avoid?
Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, Mississippi, and South Dakota received fewer than 500 people from New York in 2022.
Why did Americans choose to move?
The main reasons Americans moved in 2022 were to improve their quality of life, live in a cheaper area, and obtain a larger home. Almost a quarter of people stated that quality of life was the most important factor for moving states, according to a survey by Home Bay, a California-based real estate brokerage.
The emigration numbers from New York
These states had the highest flow of former New York residents in 2022:
• Florida: 91,201
• New Jersey: 75,103
• Connecticut: 50,670
• Pennsylvania: 44,807
• California: 31,255
• Texas: 30,890
• North Carolina: 25,024
• Massachusetts: 21,186
• Virginia: 17,516
• Georgia: 16,535
Source: USA Today