On Tuesday, October 22nd, the United States Census Bureau reported that more than 480,000 residents left New York State in 2023. Among the top destinations for these former New Yorkers, Florida led with 71,138 people moving to the Sunshine State. Despite this, Florida also saw 24,749 people move in the opposite direction, resulting in a net loss for New York of 46,389 residents to Florida. This migration trend continues the pattern seen in recent years, driven by economic and lifestyle preferences.
Neighboring states, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, were also popular relocation spots. New Jersey welcomed 55,926 New Yorkers, while 42,637 moved to Pennsylvania. However, when factoring in the number of people moving from these states to New York, the net outflow was 15,452 to New Jersey and 15,034 to Pennsylvania. Rounding out the top five states were California and Texas, where 35,062 and 29,610 residents relocated, respectively.
Despite this exodus, Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration highlighted improvements. A spokesperson for the Hochul pointed out that 65,000 fewer people left New York in 2023 compared to 2022, with international immigration rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, Governor Hochul has invested heavily in affordable housing to combat the state’s high cost of living, which has been a major factor driving residents to other states.
The data also shows that while many New Yorkers are leaving, others are moving in. An estimated 302,835 people migrated to New York from other states in 2023. New Jersey topped the list of states contributing to this influx, with 40,474 residents moving to the Empire State. Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, and Florida also saw significant numbers of their residents relocate to New York.
Experts warn that while the influx helps, the overall net outflow of 178,709 people signals a pressing need for continued efforts to retain New York’s working and middle-class populations.
