Special Report

The City Americans Are Abandoning in Every State

Thomas Bullock / Getty Images

Americans are less likely to move today than at any point in recent history. Over the 12 months ending in March 2019, the share of Americans who moved to a new home dipped below 10% for the first time since the U.S. Census Bureau began keeping track in 1947. 

Still, an average of 35 million Americans have moved every year since 2010 — and in some cities, people are leaving much faster than they are arriving. To determine the cities Americans are abandoning in every state, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program and identified the metro area with the largest net-migration decline from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 in every state. 

Net migration is the difference between the number of new residents — either from other parts of the country or from abroad — and the number of residents who have moved elsewhere. It is not a measure of total population change, which is also a product of births and deaths. 

It is important to note that four states — Delaware, New Hampshire. Rhode Island, and Vermont — have only one metropolitan area each, and each case reported a net migration increase. Additionally, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming have no metro areas with a net migration decline between 2010 and 2018 .

Some of the most commonly cited reasons for packing up and moving to a new city are related to employment. Last year, more than one in every five moves were prompted by work-related reasons. In many of the cities Americans are abandoning, job availability is relatively low, as most have unemployment rates as high or higher than the 3.6% national rate. Here is a look at the hardest states to find full-time work.

Click here to see the cities Americans are abandoning in every state
Click here to see the cities Americans are flocking to in every state

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

1. Alabama: Montgomery
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -12,144 (-3.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -1,316 (-0.4%)
> 2018 population: 373,225
> Median household income: $51,943
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.7%

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

2. Alaska: Fairbanks
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -8,736 (-9.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +1,386 (+1.4%)
> 2018 population: 98,971
> Median household income: $75,448
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.3%

razyph / Getty Images

3. Arizona: Sierra Vista-Douglas
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -7,484 (-5.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -4,587 (-3.5%)
> 2018 population: 126,770
> Median household income: $50,495
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.5%

Paul Sableman (Flickr user: pasa47) / Wikimedia Commons

4. Arkansas: Pine Bluff
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -11,360 (-11.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -10,775 (-10.7%)
> 2018 population: 89,515
> Median household income: $37,314
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.3%

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5. California: Hanford-Corcoran
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -14,567 (-9.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -1,616 (-1.1%)
> 2018 population: 151,366
> Median household income: $61,663
> January 2020 unemployment: 7.6%

Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images

6. Colorado: None

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7. Connecticut: Norwich-New London
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -9,732 (-3.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -7,284 (-2.7%)
> 2018 population: 266,784
> Median household income: $67,197
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.6%

Harry Collins / Getty Images

8. Delaware: None

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

9. Florida: None

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Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

10. Georgia: Hinesville
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -8,248 (-10.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +2,576 (+3.3%)
> 2018 population: 80,495
> Median household income: $47,234
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.5%

Art Wager / Getty Images

11. Hawaii: Urban Honolulu
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -19,098 (-2.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +26,874 (+2.8%)
> 2018 population: 980,080
> Median household income: $84,423
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.5%

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Ethan Prater from San Bruno, CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons

12. Idaho: Pocatello
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -647 (-0.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +4,296 (+5.2%)
> 2018 population: 87,138
> Median household income: $50,748
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.7%

Daniel Schwen / Wikimedia Commons

13. Illinois: Danville
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -5,455 (-6.7%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -4,819 (-5.9%)
> 2018 population: 76,806
> Median household income: $43,655
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.9%

lydiabilby / Getty Images

14. Indiana: Muncie
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -2,889 (-2.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -2,892 (-2.5%)
> 2018 population: 114,772
> Median household income: $41,662
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.8%

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dustin77a / Getty Images

15. Iowa: Sioux City
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -6,978 (-4.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +482 (+0.3%)
> 2018 population: 169,045
> Median household income: $61,576
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.8%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

16. Kansas: Manhattan
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -2,405 (-2.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +5,240 (+5.7%)
> 2018 population: 97,980
> Median household income: $49,200
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.8%

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17. Kentucky: Elizabethtown-Fort Knox
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -811 (-0.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +5,038 (+3.4%)
> 2018 population: 153,378
> Median household income: $51,147
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.2%

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

18. Louisiana: Shreveport-Bossier City
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -17,484 (-4.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -3,470 (-0.8%)
> 2018 population: 436,341
> Median household income: $41,969
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.5%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

19. Maine: Lewiston-Auburn
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -1,753 (-1.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -31 (-0.0%)
> 2018 population: 107,679
> Median household income: $49,697
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.9%

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John M. Chase / Getty Images

20. Maryland: Cumberland
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -2,899 (-2.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -5,330 (-5.2%)
> 2018 population: 97,915
> Median household income: $44,607
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.3%

devardhan / Wikimedia Commons

21. Massachusetts: Pittsfield
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -1,606 (-1.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -4,927 (-3.8%)
> 2018 population: 126,348
> Median household income: $60,476
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.5%

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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

22. Michigan: Flint
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -23,255 (-5.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -18,897 (-4.4%)
> 2018 population: 406,892
> Median household income: $48,127
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.7%

taarnes / Getty Images

23. Minnesota: Duluth
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -450 (-0.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -977 (-0.3%)
> 2018 population: 278,799
> Median household income: $53,767
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.3%

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

24. Mississippi: Jackson
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -6,810 (-1.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +12,534 (+2.2%)
> 2018 population: 580,166
> Median household income: $55,700
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.8%

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25or6to4 / Wikimedia Commons

25. Missouri: St. Joseph
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -2,781 (-2.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -837 (-0.7%)
> 2018 population: 126,490
> Median household income: $53,321
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.1%

leezsnow / Getty Images

26. Montana: Great Falls
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -2,252 (-2.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +320 (+0.4%)
> 2018 population: 81,643
> Median household income: $49,948
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.3%

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

27. Nebraska: Grand Island
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -502 (-0.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +3,238 (+4.0%)
> 2018 population: 85,088
> Median household income: $54,235
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.5%

KiskaMedia / Getty Images

28. Nevada: None

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

29. New Hampshire: None

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30. New Jersey: Vineland-Bridgeton
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -10,118 (-6.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -5,661 (-3.6%)
> 2018 population: 150,972
> Median household income: $52,795
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.7%

AllenS / Wikimedia Commons

31. New Mexico: Farmington
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -11,873 (-9.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -5,002 (-3.8%)
> 2018 population: 125,043
> Median household income: $44,841
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.7%

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32. New York: Watertown-Fort Drum
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -14,329 (-12.3%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -4,479 (-3.9%)
> 2018 population: 111,755
> Median household income: $53,146
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.8%

fallbrook / Getty Images

33. North Carolina: Rocky Mount
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -7,021 (-4.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -6,354 (-4.2%)
> 2018 population: 146,021
> Median household income: $46,733
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.0%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

34. North Dakota: Grand Forks
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -1,071 (-1.1%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +3,835 (+3.9%)
> 2018 population: 102,299
> Median household income: $54,659
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.6%

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

35. Ohio: Lima
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -5,125 (-4.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -3,652 (-3.4%)
> 2018 population: 102,663
> Median household income: $49,063
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.2%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

36. Oklahoma: Lawton
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -11,422 (-8.8%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -4,090 (-3.1%)
> 2018 population: 126,198
> Median household income: $52,034
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.5%

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mdurson / Getty Images

37. Oregon: None

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38. Pennsylvania: Johnstown
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -7,980 (-5.6%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -11,951 (-8.3%)
> 2018 population: 131,730
> Median household income: $45,084
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.6%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

39. Rhode Island: None

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40. South Carolina: Sumter
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -4,323 (-4.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -978 (-0.9%)
> 2018 population: 106,512
> Median household income: $45,994
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.9%

pabradyphoto / Getty Images

41. South Dakota: None

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csfotoimages / iStock

42. Tennessee: Memphis
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -32,900 (-2.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +25,791 (+1.9%)
> 2018 population: 1.4 million
> Median household income: $50,338
> January 2020 unemployment: 4.1%

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

43. Texas: Brownsville-Harlingen
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -20,487 (-5.0%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +17,693 (+4.4%)
> 2018 population: 423,908
> Median household income: $38,378
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.6%

44. Utah: Logan
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -680 (-0.5%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +15,352 (+12.2%)
> 2018 population: 140,794
> Median household income: $59,414
> January 2020 unemployment: 1.9%

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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

45. Vermont: None

Oliver Kawwass / Getty Images

46. Virginia: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -20,469 (-1.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +51,910 (+3.1%)
> 2018 population: 1.7 million
> Median household income: $65,604
> January 2020 unemployment: 2.9%

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BehindTheLens / Getty Images

47. Washington: Yakima
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -9,471 (-3.9%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +8,206 (+3.4%)
> 2018 population: 251,446
> Median household income: $51,555
> January 2020 unemployment: 6.8%

48. West Virginia: Charleston
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -12,194 (-5.4%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: -16,023 (-7.1%)
> 2018 population: 211,037
> Median household income: $40,806
> January 2020 unemployment: 5.0%

Aneese / iStock

49. Wisconsin: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis
> Population change due to migration, 2010-2018: -33,585 (-2.2%)
> Overall population change, 2010-2018: +20,159 (+1.3%)
> 2018 population: 1.6 million
> Median household income: $60,643
> January 2020 unemployment: 3.7%

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50. Wyoming: None

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