Millions of New Yorkers May Be Planning to Leave

The sun sets on the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City on April 13, 2024, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. New Yorkers are planning to leave the state in droves, a new report indicates.

About 7 million New Yorkers plan to leave the state, a new survey revealed this month.

In a new Marist poll, 37 percent of New Yorkers—roughly 7 million people—said they plan to move away. The number was slightly more concentrated among Republicans, as 46 percent said they plan to leave the state compared to just 29 percent of Democrats.

The mass migration echoes a trend that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued in the years that followed as Northerners sought warmer weather, cheaper living and more favorable tax conditions.

In 2022, New York’s population plummeted by 101,984, the biggest drop in the nation that year.

According to the poll, white New Yorkers were also more likely to stay, with just 33 percent saying they planned to move compared to 42 percent of the non-white respondents.

The survey looked at responses from more than 1,400 New York adults this month, and residents seemed pretty split on how happy they were continuing to live in the state.

More New Yorkers disapproved of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul’s job performance, at 42 percent, than approved, 39 percent.

There are some political issues that might be driving New Yorkers to want to explore a different place to call home.

More than half, 52 percent, of New Yorkers said things had gotten worse in the last year, and roughly the same amount said the economy had gotten worse, as well.

Josh Steppling, a Florida-based EXP Realty agent, has seen many New York transplants move down. Often, he said, they want to flee the high costs of living that comes with everything from housing, taxes and everyday expenses.

As home prices surge even in cities that used to be more affordable, New Yorkers might see the South or Midwest as a way to escape the financial woes and potentially even own a home for the first time.

“The state’s complex regulatory environment can be a problem for those starting and maintaining businesses, and the frequently unfavorable weather conditions can add to the disdain,” Steppling told Newsweek.

For many, Florida remains one of the top places to move, but Southern states in general have been recording the biggest influx in transplants.

According to Realtor.com, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta, Tampa and Orlando remain some of the top locations for New Yorkers to start again.

Looking at prices, it’s easy to see why. While New York metro area homes have a $760,000 median price, homes outside of Miami can go for far closer to the national average of $425,000.

“Retirees are looking for a warmer climate, young families and millennials have enjoyed a lower cost of living, and business owners are seeking a more favorable tax environment,” Steppling said.

Alan Chang, founder and president of Vested Title & Escrow, echoed the statement, saying retirement remains out of reach for a substantial number of New Yorkers if they decide to stay put.

“Unless you have a highly lucrative career with massive savings, the reality of retirement in a major metro is increasingly difficult, if not impossible,” Chang told Newsweek.

However, if people keep fleeing states like New York for the South, Steppling said there could be some serious ramifications for the country.

“It could shift political dynamics in some areas and will certainly have an effect on the economy of both areas,” Steppling said. “New residents bringing skills and economic demand to a new community are taking those away from where they leave, and they’re also placing strains on local infrastructure and resources.”

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