A new data analysis by a nonpartisan organization discovered that only one state had more people leaving on average every day than New York. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation conducted an analysis using IRS data and other publicly accessible information to determine which states have the most people leaving and which have the most people moving in.
All of the top five states with the highest number of people departing for good share several characteristics. The NTUF cites one of these as a crushing tax burden on both individuals and corporations.
“Taxpayers prefer to live in states that do not view them as infinite sources of financing for politicians’ pet projects. While many politicians and pundits claim that tax-and-spend policies are what Americans want, the reality is that, year after year, there is a steady shift from high-tax to more fiscally responsible states,” said Andrew Wilford, Director of the NTUF’s Interstate Commerce Initiative and report author.
International influx
While New York is witnessing the largest net outflow, the impact is mitigated by international migrant intakes. Between July 2017 and July 2018, about 200,000 New Yorkers sought a new life outside of the Big Apple, while the area received nearly 100,000 net international migrants.
Miami was the second most appealing location for international migrants, with 93,000 new arrivals, after only Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, and the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.
Understanding The Facts
On the other end of the spectrum, seven cities saw more than 100 new arrivals per day. Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Austin had significant inflows from domestic and foreign migration. Houston and Miami, both Sun Belt cities, were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively. Seattle was the only cold-weather location in the top ten.
The migration estimates do not account for natural population growth, which is calculated as the difference between the number of live births and deaths. In ten of the top 100 metro areas, deaths outnumber births.
Moving Influx.
High housing prices and local taxes are causing homeowners to leave and deterring potential movers from other parts of the country. Last year, approximately 200,000 residents fled New York. Los Angeles declined by roughly 120,000, while Chicago dropped by 84,000. Miami, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and San Jose also saw comparable patterns.
Self-storage facilities have already sprouted up around these cities, hoping to attract those involved in this movement. Growing secondary markets frequently increase demand for self-storage space, particularly in areas that have smaller national average dwelling spaces, such as New York City.
What researchers discovered
According to experts, the majority of survey respondents—nearly 46%—plan to relocate to a Southern state. The Midwest is the only other region that has had a net increase of interested movers, albeit by a modest margin (just over 3%).
On the other hand, the West suffered a net loss in movers, with around a quarter of respondents interested in relocating to a Western state and nearly three in ten hoping to leave the region.
More respondents considered leaving the Northeast states than moving there. Overall, these findings are consistent with migratory trends over the last few years. According to the United States Census Bureau, the South was the only region to have positive net domestic migration between 2023 and 2024.
What states are we leaving and heading to in 2025?
New York followed closely behind, with a net loss of 2,009 persons (6,099 leaving and 4,090 coming). Tennessee overtook Florida for third place this year, with a net gain of 1,277 movers.
Minnesota saw the highest year-over-year increase in migration interest, rising from No. 40 last year to No. 14 in 2025.
The states with the most people migrating in include:
The states with the highest rate of new residents are:
- Florida (every 2 minutes, 9 seconds)
- Texas (2 minutes and 53 seconds)
- North Carolina (6 minutes and 21 seconds)
- South Carolina (7 minutes and 30 seconds)
- Tennessee (8 minutes and 42 seconds).
When state and municipal taxes are combined, New York currently has the highest income tax rate in the country. It has the second-highest overall tax burden, with residents paying an average of 13.56% of their income each year.
FAQs
Q1: Are more people departing New York than moving in?
NYC’s Net Migration: 352,000 Residents Leave.
According to 2022 IRS data, around 174,400 people relocated to New York City and approximately 352,100 left, resulting in a net loss of over 177,800 residents. Interestingly, most of those who left didn’t wander far.
Q2: Why are so many people leaving New York?
High cost of living. High rentals. High taxation. You basically need a permit to do practically anything.
Q3: How many people are leaving New York every day?
Around 900 people
Q4: What is the 20-hour rule in New York?
Beginning January 1, 2025, covered employers must offer 20 hours of paid prenatal leave.
Q5: What city are most Americans relocating to?
Ranked: The Cities Where Americans Are Moving
additional York City is at the top of the list, with almost 702,000 additional residents expected in 2024, although just 20% are from out of state. Los Angeles (371,000) and Houston (356,000) remain popular destinations due to job possibilities and cultural influence.