New York City has long attracted people looking for career opportunities, great food, cultural attractions, and the excitement of city life. But as housing prices, taxes, and everyday expenses remain high, some residents find it harder to justify staying.

A recent analysis by the Citizens’ Budget Commission found that New York City’s population declined in 2025 after growing for two years. Fewer international arrivals and continued domestic outmigration both contributed to the decline, raising questions about affordability and what keeps residents in the city.

A Change After Recent Population Growth

New York City added residents in 2023 and 2024, but that growth didn’t last into 2025 as international migration dropped and more residents moved elsewhere in the United States. The Citizens’ Budget Commission reported that in 2025, 114,000 more people moved from the city to other U.S. locations than moved into it, a figure below the losses seen during the pandemic.

Who Is Leaving New York City?

The people leaving come from different backgrounds, though the figures vary by year and income group. Data for 2023–2024 showed more residents from the bottom 40% of income levels leaving than residents from the top 40%, while the latest analysis found net outmigration across income groups in 2025.

Millennials have been leaving at higher rates than other generations, and Hispanic residents have also had higher departure rates than some other racial and ethnic groups. The figures suggest that concerns about the cost of city living affect a wide range of residents, though the reasons for moving differ from household to household.

Why Are People Leaving?

The cost of living is a major concern for many New Yorkers, with housing, taxes, and everyday expenses putting pressure on household budgets. Some residents also point to concerns about public services, schools, and neighborhood conditions when deciding whether to stay.

For working- and middle-income families, finding a home with more space or lower monthly costs can make moving seem worthwhile. High earners face their own financial considerations, including taxes and housing expenses, though affordability alone doesn’t explain every decision to leave.

Where Are Former New Yorkers Moving?

Many people who leave New York City stay in the surrounding region, moving to places such as Long Island and New Jersey to stay close to family, work, and the city itself. Those who move farther away often choose states such as Florida, California, and Texas.

Reasons vary, from seeking more affordable housing to wanting warmer weather, more space, or a different pace of life. A move outside the five boroughs doesn’t always mean someone is leaving the New York area altogether.

Leaving Doesn’t Mean Everyone Is Done With New York

New York City still attracts residents with its job market, restaurants, entertainment, museums, and cultural life, and many people consider those benefits worth the expense. The Citizens’ Budget Commission also found that the city’s millionaire population doubled between 2010 and 2022, even as New York’s share of the nation’s millionaires declined.

That leaves a mixed picture: some residents are moving away because the cost no longer fits their budget, while others stay for work, family, and the lifestyle they enjoy. The city’s challenge is to remain a place where people across a range of incomes can afford to live and see a future for themselves.