Major US cities see population decline as residents move to lower-tax states
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 2
Major US cities see population decline as residents move to lower-tax states
6 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 2
New York City lost about 114,000 net domestic residents in 2025, Los Angeles County shed 53,421, and Boston surveys show 26% of people aged 20 to 30 plan to leave.
Reports cite high taxes and housing costs, while weaker international migration worsened losses; New York's international inflow fell 70% and Governor Kathy Hochul warned the tax base is eroding.
Meanwhile, South Carolina became the fastest-growing state, gaining 66,622 domestic migrants, while Florida led income migration and Texas, Florida, the Carolinas and Tennessee drew taxpayers from higher-tax states.
Can America's legacy cities reverse the great wealth migration before their tax bases collapse?
Will booming Sunbelt states avoid the affordability crises now plaguing coastal cities?
As AI concentrates wealth in emptying cities, what is the future of the American metropolis?