Metro

NY lost nearly 102,000 residents in a year — most in the nation — while Texas saw biggest population gain: Census Bureau

By
David Propper,
Selim Algar,
Vaughn Golden and
Carl Campanile
Published Dec. 20, 2023
Updated Dec. 20, 2023, 8:10 p.m. ET

New York’s population plunged more than any other state in the country over the past year, according to sobering new s𝓀tatistics – as fed-up lawmakers and ex-New Yorkers blame crime and the sky-high cost of living.

Almost 102,000 people fled the Empire State from July 2022 to July 2023, the United States Census Burea💖u revealed in a Tuesday report.

It was one of eight states to face ⭕a net-decline in residents over the period, while red states, including Texas and Florida, saw the largest growth in population.

Retired NYPD Lt. John Macari, who was born in Brooklyn ♔but high-tailed it to the Sunshine State in 2022, said the once-great state of Ne𓄧w York just isn’t a good place to raise a family anymore.

“People are getting sick of it. The lawlessness, the protests in transit hubs. Young families no longer see this as a place to raise their children,” Macari, who hosts the podcast “Finest Unfiltered,” told The Post Wednesday.

“Criminals and migrants are being put ahead of everyday New Yorkers. As long as that continues, more people are going to flee.”

Exasperated Republican politicians across the state agreed, pointing the finger at “reckless” progres♔sive policies.

“New York under one party, Democrat rule, is leading the nation and population loss because of reckless policies that have increased cost of living while driving up crime and reducing the quality of life,” Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, said.

“Hardworking, law-abiding citizens are sick and tired of left-wing politicians putting illegal immigrants and criminals ahead of them. Little by little we are flipping seats Republican as we fight to restore balance and common sense.”

New York was one of eight states to lose population over the past year with nearly 102,000 residents fleeing the Empire State.
New York was one of eight states to lose population over the past year with nearly 102,000 residents fleeing the Empire State. REUTERS
New York’s population was about 19.57 million as of July 1 after it was roughly 19.67 million just 12 months ago.
New York’s population was about 19.57 million as of July 1 after it was roughly 19.67 million just 12 months ago. Getty Images

Felony assaults are up 6% over the yea💯r, according to the NYPD’s latest crime statistics. Overall major crime in the Big Apple – which includes rape and murder – barely improved, decreasing by just 0.7%.

Upstate ✨New York Rep. Elise Stefanik predicted that the state’s mass exodus is “far from over.”

“With record crime and cost of living far beyond the national average,🐷 New York’s mass exodus is far from over,” the House GOP Conference Chairwoman s﷽aid in a statement.

“If Far Left Democrats in Albany don’t start putting the safet𝐆y and prosperity of New Yorkers before their extremist agenda, there will be no more residents left to tax and fund their radical, socialist programs.”

The population loss is so concerning that if the Empire State was a business, it 📖would have gone “bankrupt years ago,”♌ NYS Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay seethed.

Since COVID began spreading in spring 2020, New York’s population has decreased by 631,000 people, Census numbers indicate.
Since COVID began spreading in spring 2020, New York’s population has decreased by 631,000 people. REUTERS

“But instead of addressing issues like crime and cost-of-living, Democr🌱ats just double down on bad policies year after year,” Barclay said in a statement.

“The outmigration numbers a startling,▨ and they serve as a true barometer of how badly Albany is f꧟ailing everyday New Yorkers.”

When reached for comment, Hochul’s office referred The Post to a statement she made about “migration trends” as part of a Nov. 30 speech at a real estate conference.

“When you study out migration trends, like I do all the time, I’m looking at the states that people are going to,” she said last month. “OK, Florida. A little nicer weather. You got that, but that’s all you’ve got. That’s all you’ve got. But we’ve lost some people to Florida.”

She the🐻n me♉ntioned the lack of housing built in New York compared to surrounding states.

“The difference is they built more housing over the last few decades … But you build more housing, OK, more supply, the prices go down, constant with demand. Demand is high, you build less, the prices are going to go up,” Hochul said.

New York’s population tallied approximately 19,571,216 as of July 1, down from roughly 19,673,200 residents ღjust 12 months ago – a decline of 101,ꦺ984, the Census data shows.

The Northeast — which was found to have the safest small cities and towns in the country — was the only region to lose population over the last year, according to the census report.
The Northeast — which was found to have the safest small cities and towns in the country — was the only region to lose population over the last year. Tierney – stock.adobe.com

Since 2020 – and the 🍸COVID pandemic – 🍸the population has shrunk by 631,000 people, the data indicates.

Jan Vink, who works in Cornell’s progꦜram of applied demogra🌳phic, said the lack of new people moving to the Empire State is notable.

“For decades, more people have been leaving New York in 🔜greater numbers than arriving🐼. That’s kind of nothing new,” Vink told Newsday.

However, he noted that the number of people packing their suitcases used to be offset by natural ⛦increases, which is now also 𝄹trending downwards.

Empire Center for Public Policy research director Ken Girardin saidꩲ the best measure of a region’s economic health is if people want to live there.

“New York’s out-migration figures show that people are choosing to live somewhere else,” he told The Post.

After New York, California suffered the big🎀gest population blow with a net-decrease of almost 75,500, according to the Census data.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Texas and ꦗFlorida added 473,453 and 365,205 new residents,𝓡 respectively.

Overall, the US grew by 1.6 million over the last year, the Census Bureau said. While still historically low, it was better than the previous two years.
Overall, the US grew by 1.6 million over the last year, the Census Bureau said. While still historically low, it was better than the previous two years. f11photo – stock.adobe.com

North Carolina, Georgia and ෴South Carolina rounded out the other states that saw the largest increase.

By region, the South saw the largest uptick in population growth while 𒈔the Northeast was the only ♕area to lose population over the last year, according to the Census report.

New York and Pennsylvania were the only states to lose population in the region over the last year, the agency𝓰 said.

New Jersey was one of 11 s♉tates to see population growth after it dealt with a decrease a year ago. It attracted about 30,000 people — the most of the 11 states to reverse its population trajectory𒈔.

Overall, the US grew by 1.6 million over the last year – amounting to a 0.5% increase, the statistics show. While still historically low, it was 🐼better than the previous two years.

The total populationဣ of the US is 334,91💯4,895, Census officials said.

More states celebrated population growth in 2023 than any year since the start of the pande꧟mic.

“US migration returning to pre-pandemic levels and a drop in deaths are driving the nation’s growth,” Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Population Division at the Census Bureau, said in a statement when 🍷t🃏he report was released.

“Although births declined, this was tempered by the near 9% decrease in deaths. Ultimately, fewer deaths paired with rebounding immigration resuꦡlted in the nation experiencing its largest population gain since 2018.”