North Carolina among states New Yorkers are flocking to

NEW YORK (WPIX) – New Yorkers are increasingly leaving the state, one of many troubling trends exposed in a new study from the Citizens Budget Commission.

The study released Monday found that, statewide, population growth has completely stagnated. In 2025, the state gained a net 1,000 residents, compared to 215,000 the year before. 

It’s driven by a mass exodus from New York City, Central New York, the North Country, Western New York, the Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier. New York City, for example, lost 12,000 more residents than it gained in 2025. 

What states are New Yorkers moving to?

New York lost 138,000 more residents to other states than it gained. Here’s how many New Yorkers went to the following states between 2019 and 2023:

• New Jersey: 390,660 
• Florida: 375, 911
• Pennsylvania: 177,335
• Connecticut: 148,316
• North Carolina: 123,751

Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey saw the biggest influx of New Yorkers, 74,855 and 67,635, respectively. 

Where are people moving within New York?

Between 2019 and 2023, nearly 1.2 million people moved from New York City to other areas in the state. Most in-state movers headed to surrounding suburban areas, like Westchester County and Long Island. 

How does income affect moving?

Residents of all income levels, ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds left New York at a faster rate than people moving in, according to the study. 

People leaving the outer boroughs for other areas in New York had significantly lower incomes than those leaving Manhattan, the data show.

People moving out of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx made under $55,000, on average. Manhattan residents leaving for other areas in New York made over $114,000. People leaving Manhattan made more than people moving in.

New Yorkers heading to California had the highest average incomes – $102,752. Residents leaving for Florida made a combined $37.4 billion, or $99,411 per year.