NYC Lost More People To Other US Cities Last Year As Population Dips: New Study Found

NEW YORK CITY — Last year more people moved out of New York City than moved in, according to a new study from the Citizens’ Budget Commission.

Across all income levels, the city lost around 114,000 more people to other cities than it gained.

While the figures are an increase from 2024 it is still lower than pandemic-era totals, according to the study.

In addition, the study found that the population decline has been caused by a 70 percent drop in international migration and New Yorkers moving to other U.S. cities.

In 2024, the city lost more low- and middle-income residents than it did high-income residents. More people with incomes in the bottom 40 percent left the city compared to those with incomes in the top 40 percent.

According to the study, people who leave the city either stay in the region or leave the state entirely.

Most people often move to Long Island, Westchester, and nearby states like New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Those leaving the region most commonly move to Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Millennials are leaving the city more than any other generation, according to the study.

"The loss of working- and middle-class residents likely reflects the high cost of living and perhaps the quality of services including schools; it is a barometer of the challenges of raising a family in New York City. High taxes may also be a factor, especially for high-income households," researchers wrote.