New York, the “Empire State,” was the most populated state for most of the nation’s history (1820 to 1960). Yet now New York often leads the nation in net domestic out-migration.

Our Unleash Prosperity “Vote with your feet” website finds that, the net outflow of domestic migrants from New York State from 2012 to 2023 was 2,008,000. New York’s loss was more people than live in Manhattan (1.7 million). Over the period, this outmigration has reduced the state’s net adjusted gross income by about $125 billion a year.

New York City’s refugees have fled to New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Texas. You know a state‘s in trouble when people leave for New Jersey.