The States Americans Are Leaving (And Which Ones They're Going To)
Americans are moving all the time. Whether they're seeking a better life, better employment, or just want a change of scenery, people all over the country pack up their lives and head from their home states to somewhere new.
So which states are they leaving?
Luckily, a moving company called United Van Lines can tell us. They help thousands of people move every year, and they keep track of where everyone's going.
They've released their 2020 report, revealing where Americans are leaving, where they're going, and why. Work is almost always the number 1 factor, but it's not everything.
Lifestyle, geography, and culture all influence people to pack up and head elsewhere, but money is usually the biggest driving force.
Here's a breakdown of the states the most Americans are fleeing—and the ones they're flocking to.
1. New Jersey
"High Taxes."
Outbound Movers: 68.5%
Unfortunately for the Garden State, this isn't anything new. For the last 10 years, New Jersey has been near the top of the list for people moving out, and a lot of people leaving give the same reason: Taxes.
With some of the highest rates in the country, from property taxes to goods and services, money seems to be the biggest thing driving people away.
One user took to Reddit to defend their state's beautiful scenery and cultural institutions, but even they had to admit the cons: "High Taxes, poor mass transit, poor highway infrastructure, and people who don't mind their own business."
2. Illinois
"Struggling Economy."
Outbound Movers: 66.5%
Illinois gets the wrong silver medal for the second year in a row. Home to deep dish pizza, vast farmland, and one really big bottle of catsup, there's another thing most Illinoisans will tell you about their state: High taxes.
According to a combined survey by NPR Illinois and the University of Illinois Springfield, 77% of people say that the economy is fair or poor, and yet taxes are still relatively high.
The same survey asked people if they had ever thought about moving elsewhere, and three out of five said yes.
Now, one Quora commenter points out that Illinois taxes are so high because they support local school systems—but that doesn't change the fact that people are leaving more than almost anywhere in America.
3. New York
"Cost of living is too high."
Outbound Movers: 63.1%
This is probably the most obvious one on the list: New York City is one of the most expensive places in the country to live. With median homes costing $1.6 million and rent running at $5,000 a month, it's no wonder people are heading for the hills. But it's not just NYC. A report published by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) on cost of living calculated that New York State has the fifth-highest cost of living in the US.
Once again, like so many others on the leavers list, the main culprit is the same: High taxes.
4. Connecticut
"Everything is expensive."
Outbound Movers: 63.0%
If New York's cost of living is bad, Connecticut's might be even worse.
MERIC has released its information on Connecticut, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture: Pretty much everything in the state is expensive, but the worst culprits are housing and utilities.
For many years, Connecticut relied on people wanting to retire there, but that's fading fast too. Over a third of the people leaving the state did so because they wanted to retire elsewhere.
Another third left because to find better jobs. And of course, Connecticut has high taxes compared to many other states. All these things combined make Connecticut land at #4.