People Are Fleeing These US Cities, Have They Become Unlivable?

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the cities Americans are leaving in droves. For each of the 387 U.S. metro areas, we reviewed population change due to net migration — the difference between outbound and inbound moves — and identified the 30 cities with the largest relative population decline between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023.

While this ranking is based solely on net migration, even when accounting for births and deaths, the vast majority of these cities have shrinking populations. When factoring in both migration and natural population change, only two metro areas on this list are larger now than they were in 2020.

Why It Matters

High rates of outbound moves from major metropolitan areas have become one of the most notable migration patterns in recent years. The metro areas Americans are most likely to leave behind include places like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, which are among the largest and most expensive places in the country. Still, smaller, more affordable cities are not immune. In places like Elmira, New York and Minot, North Dakota, the volume of outbound migration has greatly surpassed the number of inbound moves in the last few years.

30. Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (-7,620)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.5% (-13,443)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +1.5% (+5,823)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.5% (-5,657)
Total population in 2023: 381,671

29. Hanford-Corcoran, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (-3,010)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.1% (-3,254)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.2% (+244)
Total population change, 2020-2023: +0.1% (+196)
Total population in 2023: 152,682

28. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

San Diego, California | Downtown San Diego Skyline Aerial

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (-65,280)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-87,347)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.7% (+22,067)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -0.9% (-28,675)
Total population in 2023: 3,269,973

27. Grand Forks, ND-MN

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (-2,074)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-2,719)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.6% (+645)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.2% (-1,246)
Total population in 2023: 103,120

26. Eagle Pass, TX

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.1% (-1,223)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-1,531)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.5% (+308)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -0.2% (-122)
Total population in 2023: 57,762

25. Laredo, TX

Population change from net-migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (-5,791)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.9% (-7,770)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.7% (+1,979)
Total population change, 2020-2023: +0.8% (+2,035)
Total population in 2023: 269,148

24. Ann Arbor, MI

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (-8,095)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.3% (-12,418)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +1.2% (+4,323)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.8% (-6,722)
Total population in 2023: 365,536

23. Alexandria, LA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (-3,323)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.4% (-3,581)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.2% (+258)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-4,013)
Total population in 2023: 148,171

22. Elmira, NY

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.3% (-1,938)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.5% (-2,139)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.2% (+201)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.3% (-2,817)
Total population in 2023: 81,325

21. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.3% (-9,233)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-10,230)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.3% (+997)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-10,114)
Total population in 2023: 383,295

20. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.4% (-20,266)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.7% (-22,837)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.3% (+2,571)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.7% (-14,250)
Total population in 2023: 829,590

19. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.5% (-234,239)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.2% (-305,428)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.8% (+71,189)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.0% (-187,479)
Total population in 2023: 9,262,825

18. Decatur, IL

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (-2,658)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -2.9% (-3,021)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.3% (+363)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.3% (-3,393)
Total population in 2023: 100,591

17. Odessa, TX

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.9% (-4,743)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.2% (-6,985)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +1.4% (+2,242)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -0.4% (-676)
Total population in 2023: 164,494

16. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -2.9% (-12,885)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.5% (-15,845)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.7% (+2,960)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.6% (-6,963)
Total population in 2023: 441,257

15. Napa, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.2% (-4,457)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (-4,982)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.4% (+525)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.5% (-4,797)
Total population in 2023: 133,216

14. Urban Honolulu, HI

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.4% (-34,111)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.3% (-43,273)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.9% (+9,162)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.7% (-27,099)
Total population in 2023: 989,408

13. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

los angeles skyline | Los Angeles golden hour cityscape over downtown skyscrapers

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.5% (-468,472)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (-583,250)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.9% (+114,778)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.0% (-401,873)
Total population in 2023: 12,799,100

12. Fairbanks-College, AK

view of downtown fairbanks alaska across frozen chena river on clear winter morning

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (-3,459)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.1% (-3,901)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.5% (+442)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -0.9% (-820)
Total population in 2023: 94,840

11. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (-9,872)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -3.9% (-10,649)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.3% (+777)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.4% (-9,323)
Total population in 2023: 261,547

10. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (-732,334)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.9% (-974,919)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +1.2% (+242,585)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.9% (-583,741)
Total population in 2023: 19,498,249

9. Manhattan, KS

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.7% (-4,974)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (-5,944)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.7% (+970)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -0.9% (-1,211)
Total population in 2023: 132,831

8. Salinas, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.8% (-16,674)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.3% (-19,085)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.5% (+2,411)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.9% (-8,312)
Total population in 2023: 430,723

7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.9% (-77,756)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -6.2% (-123,379)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +2.3% (+45,623)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.7% (-54,722)
Total population in 2023: 1,945,767

6. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -3.9% (-4,567)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (-5,081)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.4% (+514)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -1.6% (-1,924)
Total population in 2023: 114,787

5. Minot, ND

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -4.0% (-3,111)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (-3,383)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.4% (+272)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -2.3% (-1,819)
Total population in 2023: 75,742

4. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (-9,024)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -4.5% (-9,417)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.2% (+393)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -4.1% (-8,470)
Total population in 2023: 198,672

3. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

San Francisco, California | Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, San Francisco, California, USA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -4.5% (-214,106)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -5.9% (-282,473)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +1.4% (+68,367)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -3.8% (-182,021)
Total population in 2023: 4,566,961

2. New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -4.8% (-48,678)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -5.7% (-57,147)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.8% (+8,469)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -4.5% (-45,121)
Total population in 2023: 962,165

1. Lake Charles, LA

Population change from net migration, 2020-2023: -5.6% (-14,297)
Population change from domestic migration, 2020-2023: -6.0% (-15,165)
Population change from international migration, 2020-2023: +0.3% (+868)
Total population change, 2020-2023: -5.7% (-14,569)
Total population in 2023: 240,082

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