TRENTON, NJ – More people are fleeing New Jersey than any other state in America. That’s according to an annual report by United Van Lines that uses data to track migration patterns of Americans nationwide.
According to the study’s results, which tracks the company’s exclusive data for customers’ state-to-state migration patterns, Vermont saw the highest percentage of inbound migration (77%) for the second consecutive year. However, for the fifth straight year, the study found that more residents moved out of New Jersey than any other state, as 67% of New Jersey moves were outbound, which is down from the five-year trend of 70%.
Many within New Jersey blame progressive liberal Governor Phil Murphy for the mass exodus that coincides with his term in office.
Under Murphy, New Jersey has become a sanctuary state, implemented soft-on-crime directives to police departments, enforced prolonged shutdowns during the pandemic, and extended burdensome COVID-19 mandates.
Most people are choosing to leave New Jersey after their retirement 37%. Those aging residents have had enough of living in a state they were tethered to only by their jobs.
26% said they were moving to be closer to family elsewhere. 28% said the New Jersey lifestyle is no longer for them. 14% said the cost of living in New Jersey was too much. 20% said they relocated because of their jobs.
The majority of New Jersey escapees were above 55 years old. However, 66% of those fleeing the state were over the age of 55.
The wealthiest residents are fleeing in droves. 72% of those leaving the state earn $100,000 or more annually.
“Our United Van Lines study and survey offers year-over-year insights into where and why Americans are moving,” United Van Lines Vice President of Corporate Communications, Eily Cummings, said. “For the last several years, Idaho was a top destination, as Americans migrated from Northern California, Washington, and even Oregon due to a similar lifestyle in the state. However, with an influx of new residents, housing prices and other living costs start to increase over time, and these popular destinations become hot spots for inflation. As a result, the study underscored that Americans are moving from expensive cities to lower-density, more affordable regions.”
New Jersey was the top outbound state in 2022, followed by Illinois and New York.