New York is losing residents at a faster pace than nearly every other state in the country. According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 571,000 Americans – about 3% of its 2020 population – left the Empire State to live elsewhere in the country in 2021. Only California, a state that’s home to nearly twice as many people, reported more outbound moves than New York in 2021.
Explanations for why so many New Yorkers are relocating vary, and are often personal. Family considerations, changes in marital status, and job transfers are the reasons behind millions of moves in the U.S. each year – and in 2020 and 2021, fear of COVID doubtless inspired many residents, especially those living in crowded New York City, to seek a change of scenery.
But other circumstances specific to New York – which is one of the most expensive places to live – are also likely pushing many out of the state. A recent report from the Tax Foundation, a non-profit think tank, found that New York has the highest tax burden in the country, with state and local taxes amounting to 15.9% of the typical income in 2022. Additionally, the overall cost of living in New York is about 9.5% higher than it is nationwide on average, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
No matter the explanation, over half a million left New York for a different state in 2021, and some parts of the country have drawn in far more ex-New Yorkers than others.
Using data on state-to-state migration flows from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states people from New York are moving to the most. The 50 places on this list – Washington D.C. and every state except New York – are ranked by the share of residents in 2021 who lived in New York in 2020. For each state and Washington D.C., we also reviewed net population change from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 with data from U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program.
Click here to learn where people from New York are moving to the most
The top five states on this list alone took in over half of all New Yorkers who moved within the U.S. in 2021. Three of them – Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – border New York, and are popular destinations for those looking to buy a home or start a family, while remaining in commuting distance to New York City. These destinations were particularly popular with COVID refugees. (Here is a look at the cities where the most people left during the pandemic.)
The two other states that rank in the top five are Florida and North Carolina. Both offer a warmer climate, a reduced tax burden, and a lower overall cost of living than New York. For these reasons, Florida in particular is an attractive option for many retired New Yorkers. (Here is a look at the cities that attracted the most new residents last year.)
50. Alaska
> People from New York who moved to Alaska in 2021: 70 (0.01% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,259 (+0.17%)
> Total 2021 population: 723,949
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49. Idaho
> People from New York who moved to Idaho in 2021: 90 (0.02% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +55,112 (+2.98%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,879,719
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48. North Dakota
> People from New York who moved to North Dakota in 2021: 149 (0.03% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -1,584 (-0.20%)
> Total 2021 population: 764,638
47. South Dakota
> People from New York who moved to South Dakota in 2021: 230 (0.04% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +8,365 (+0.94%)
> Total 2021 population: 884,616
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46. Montana
> People from New York who moved to Montana in 2021: 325 (0.06% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +19,152 (+1.76%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,093,888
45. West Virginia
> People from New York who moved to West Virginia in 2021: 596 (0.10% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -5,894 (-0.33%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,767,792
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44. Iowa
> People from New York who moved to Iowa in 2021: 909 (0.16% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +7,118 (+0.22%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,159,672
43. Nebraska
> People from New York who moved to Nebraska in 2021: 930 (0.16% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +912 (+0.05%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,939,700
42. Wyoming
> People from New York who moved to Wyoming in 2021: 956 (0.17% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,878 (+0.33%)
> Total 2021 population: 573,476
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41. Oklahoma
> People from New York who moved to Oklahoma in 2021: 1,332 (0.23% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +26,313 (+0.66%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,943,443
40. Arkansas
> People from New York who moved to Arkansas in 2021: 1,352 (0.24% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +13,927 (+0.46%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,990,311
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39. Louisiana
> People from New York who moved to Louisiana in 2021: 1,357 (0.24% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -24,566 (-0.53%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,571,302
38. Nevada
> People from New York who moved to Nevada in 2021: 1,582 (0.28% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +30,754 (+0.99%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,111,722
37. Mississippi
> People from New York who moved to Mississippi in 2021: 1,804 (0.32% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -8,555 (-0.29%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,919,574
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36. Minnesota
> People from New York who moved to Minnesota in 2021: 2,047 (0.36% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,619 (+0.03%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,645,866
35. Alabama
> People from New York who moved to Alabama in 2021: 2,085 (0.37% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +18,484 (+0.37%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,989,797
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34. Wisconsin
> People from New York who moved to Wisconsin in 2021: 2,219 (0.39% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -16,170 (-0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,838,954
33. New Mexico
> People from New York who moved to New Mexico in 2021: 2,249 (0.39% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -1,713 (-0.08%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,092,251
32. Hawaii
> People from New York who moved to Hawaii in 2021: 2,696 (0.47% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -3,889 (-0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,426,298
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31. Utah
> People from New York who moved to Utah in 2021: 2,918 (0.51% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +55,328 (+1.68%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,295,561
30. Kansas
> People from New York who moved to Kansas in 2021: 3,064 (0.54% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +3 (+0.00%)
> Total 2021 population: 2,900,594
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29. Kentucky
> People from New York who moved to Kentucky in 2021: 3,115 (0.55% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -856 (-0.02%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,460,646
28. Maine
> People from New York who moved to Maine in 2021: 3,326 (0.58% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +13,681 (+1.00%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,360,264
27. Missouri
> People from New York who moved to Missouri in 2021: 3,608 (0.63% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +15,825 (+0.26%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,102,443
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26. District of Columbia
> People from New York who moved to the District of Columbia in 2021: 3,658 (0.64% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -2,077 (-0.31%)
> Total 2021 population: 661,026
25. Indiana
> People from New York who moved to Indiana in 2021: 4,290 (0.75% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +24,733 (+0.36%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,729,771
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24. Oregon
> People from New York who moved to Oregon in 2021: 4,407 (0.77% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +11,506 (+0.27%)
> Total 2021 population: 4,207,387
23. New Hampshire
> People from New York who moved to New Hampshire in 2021: 4,470 (0.78% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +8,918 (+0.65%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,377,638
22. Tennessee
> People from New York who moved to Tennessee in 2021: 5,676 (0.99% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +42,732 (+0.62%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,899,165
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21. Washington
> People from New York who moved to Washington in 2021: 5,682 (1.00% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +16,714 (+0.22%)
> Total 2021 population: 7,657,350
20. Vermont
> People from New York who moved to Vermont in 2021: 5,816 (1.02% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +4,079 (+0.63%)
> Total 2021 population: 641,007
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19. Delaware
> People from New York who moved to Delaware in 2021: 5,958 (1.04% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +12,693 (+1.28%)
> Total 2021 population: 994,669
18. Michigan
> People from New York who moved to Michigan in 2021: 6,385 (1.12% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -32,073 (-0.32%)
> Total 2021 population: 9,950,336
17. Arizona
> People from New York who moved to Arizona in 2021: 6,674 (1.17% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +84,934 (+1.18%)
> Total 2021 population: 7,202,745
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16. Rhode Island
> People from New York who moved to Rhode Island in 2021: 7,321 (1.28% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +640 (+0.06%)
> Total 2021 population: 1,085,539
15. Illinois
> People from New York who moved to Illinois in 2021: 8,092 (1.42% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -100,111 (-0.78%)
> Total 2021 population: 12,544,435
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14. Maryland
> People from New York who moved to Maryland in 2021: 11,578 (2.03% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +1,405 (+0.02%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,099,715
13. South Carolina
> People from New York who moved to South Carolina in 2021: 11,615 (2.03% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +61,418 (+1.20%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,142,137
12. Ohio
> People from New York who moved to Ohio in 2021: 11,752 (2.06% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -33,175 (-0.28%)
> Total 2021 population: 11,660,200
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11. Colorado
> People from New York who moved to Colorado in 2021: 12,611 (2.21% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +26,432 (+0.46%)
> Total 2021 population: 5,757,628
10. Virginia
> People from New York who moved to Virginia in 2021: 13,416 (2.35% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +20,894 (+0.24%)
> Total 2021 population: 8,557,020
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9. Georgia
> People from New York who moved to Georgia in 2021: 14,038 (2.46% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +58,201 (+0.54%)
> Total 2021 population: 10,688,429
8. Massachusetts
> People from New York who moved to Massachusetts in 2021: 24,489 (4.29% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -6,039 (-0.09%)
> Total 2021 population: 6,916,314
7. Texas
> People from New York who moved to Texas in 2021: 24,951 (4.37% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +326,390 (+1.12%)
> Total 2021 population: 29,170,380
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6. California
> People from New York who moved to California in 2021: 32,723 (5.73% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -358,662 (-0.91%)
> Total 2021 population: 38,833,197
5. North Carolina
> People from New York who moved to North Carolina in 2021: 32,759 (5.74% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +116,440 (+1.11%)
> Total 2021 population: 10,446,881
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4. Connecticut
> People from New York who moved to Connecticut in 2021: 40,790 (7.14% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +25,993 (+0.72%)
> Total 2021 population: 3,571,470
3. Pennsylvania
> People from New York who moved to Pennsylvania in 2021: 49,702 (8.70% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +17,619 (+0.14%)
> Total 2021 population: 12,842,522
2. New Jersey
> People from New York who moved to New Jersey in 2021: 91,421 (16.01% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: -3,728 (-0.04%)
> Total 2021 population: 9,174,117
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1. Florida
> People from New York who moved to Florida in 2021: 91,758 (16.07% of all outbound New Yorkers)
> 1-yr. net population change: +238,467 (+1.10%)
> Total 2021 population: 21,590,684
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