By 5 Towns Central Staff

QUEENS, NEW YORK (August 23, 2026)

New York has undergone a dramatic population shift since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau data shown, more than 1.1 million residents have moved out of New York to other states since April 2020. During the same period, the state recorded roughly 749,000 international arrivals.

Despite that influx, New York’s overall population remains about 201,000 lower than it was in April 2020.

The domestic population loss ranks New York among the states experiencing the largest exodus of residents, trailing only California in net domestic migration losses.

The figures highlight a growing debate over the state’s affordability, taxes, housing costs and overall quality of life—with critics arguing that policies under Gov. Kathy Hochul are contributing to an environment that is pushing longtime residents to leave.