A recent survey reveals that up to one third of New Yorkers are considering leaving the state due to the rise in cost of living and decline in quality of life.
According to a poll released by Marist College on February 26, 86% of respondents believe that the cost of living in New York State is too high, which is higher than the 82% reported last year.
The high cost of living has led 40% of New Yorkers to make plans to leave the state within the next five years, with 21% citing a decrease in quality of life as their reason for wanting to leave.
While 51% of residents believe that the quality of life in New York has declined, this percentage is slightly lower than the 55% reported last year, with 35% feeling that there has been no change in quality of life.
Among those planning to move, 15% are doing so because of high taxes, 10% due to political reasons, and 7% because they dislike the weather here.
Taking into account all these factors, the survey shows that approximately 33% of New Yorkers are planning to leave the state, which is a 1% increase compared to last year and higher by a few percentage points during former Governor Cuomo’s administration. However, in 2024, 37% of respondents from the same polling organization said they were getting ready to pack their bags and leave.
Last year, residents of New York and New Jersey had the highest outmigration numbers compared to any other state. According to the 2025 national moving survey by United Van Lines, most people moved to the South and the Pacific Northwest.
The trend of people leaving New York due to cost of living and quality of life issues is concerning and could have long-term implications for the state’s population and economy.