New Jersey citizens continue to vote with their feet and move to other states. That was true for FY2024, when a net 35,554 left, and it was true from 2020 to 2024, when a net 192,209 left. In both cases, New Jersey had the 4th-worst outmigration among the 50 states. Only international immigration kept New Jersey’s population from shrinking, but because they tend to bring in less wealth than the citizens who are leaving, New Jersey is consistently bleeding wealth.
For both time-periods, the same five states were in the bottom five: California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Note that all are “blue” states, with big governments, powerful government unions, high taxes, and high costs of living. The same five states were in the top five as well: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennesee. All are “red” states, with smaller governments, less powerful government unions, lower taxes, and lower costs of living. The numbers speak volumes about the relative attractiveness of state governance models: American citizens want less government, lower taxes, and lower costs of living.
FY2024: According to the most recent US Census Bureau data, from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024, New Jersey saw a net outmigration to other states of -35,554, which placed New Jersey at 47th among the 50 states.
Here are the bottom five:
- 46. MA -27,480
- 47. NJ -35,554
- 48. IL -56,235
- 49. NY -120,917
- 50. CA -239,575
Here are the top 5:
- 1. TX 85,267
- 2. NC 82,288
- 3. SC 68,043
- 4. FL 64,017
- 5. TN 48,476
FY 2020 – 2024: From April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024, New Jersey saw a net outmigration of -192,209, which was also 47th out of the 50 states.
Here are the bottom 5:
- 46. MA -162,751
- 47. NJ -192,209
- 48. IL – 418,056
- 49. NY -966,209
- 50. CA -1,465,116
Here are the top 5:
- 1. FL 872,722
- 2. TX 747,730
- 3. NC 392,010
- 4. SC 314,953
- 5. TN 252,180
For New Jersey, the continuing exodus of citizens to other states is greater than the natural birth/death rate, so absent international immigration, New Jersey’s population would be shrinking. For FY2024, New Jersey had 130,692 international immigrants and lost -35,554 citizens to other states, so its net migration into the state was 95,138. For 2020 to 2024, New Jersey had 327,188 international immigrants and lost -192,209 to other states, so net migration was 134,979.
It is also true that the international immigrants coming into New Jersey tend to bring in less wealth than those who are leaving for other states (many of whom are retirees) take out, so New Jersey is consistently bleeding wealth, which has negative implications for the state’s future.