Why Are New Yorkers Leaving the State?

“That’s it, I’m leaving the state,” said almost every New York resident, probably.

While most say it out of frustration regarding the awful traffic or high taxes, some are actually packing up their bags and leaving, according to Empire Center.

U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates notes the number of people who left the state over the past documented year, which ended last July 1, is roughly the entire population of Yonkers, New York’s fourth-largest city. That means 191,367 left the state, putting New York’s population into a decline for the first time in a decade.

New York’s estimated population of 19,745,289 decreased by 1,894 people from a year earlier as of July 1, the Empire Center says. While just a .01 percent decrease, 2015 to 2016 was reportedly the first year since 2005 to 2006 in which the state’s population dropped.

Keep in mind that at the same time, the data says New York was a national leader in:

• Foreign immigrations— added 118,748 residents
• Natural increase (births minus deaths)— added 75,794 people

Compared to New York, California and Florida were the only states that brought in more foreign immigrants while California and Texas had a higher natural increase, Empire Center says.

So, where are all the New Yorkers going? An Empire Center analysis from 2011 shows they were mostly going to North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey from 2001 to 2009.

Where would you go if you were to flee New York? Sound off in the comments below.

Image of the Long Island Expressway in Queens via Wikipedia Commons courtesy of Vishwin60