Are more people moving into Boston or are they leaving?
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Are more people moving into Boston or are they leaving?
The answer depends on whether you look at domestic movement within the U.S. or the total population.
Currently, more people are leaving the Boston area and Massachusetts for other U.S. states than are moving in from them. However, because of high rates of international immigration, the overall population of the region is still growing slightly.
Key Trends for 2025–2026
- Domestic Outmigration: In 2025, approximately 33,000 more people moved out of Massachusetts than arrived from other states.
- Total Population Growth: Despite residents leaving for other states, the total population reached an estimated 7.15 million as of July 2025 due to international arrivals and a higher number of births than deaths.
- Ranking: Massachusetts has recently ranked in the top 5 “most moved from” states in the U.S., alongside California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey.
Why People are Leaving
According to researchers at Boston University and the U.S. Census Bureau, the primary drivers for leaving include:
- High Cost of Living: Massachusetts is consistently cited as one of the most expensive states for housing and utilities.
- Affordability Pressures: A Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll found that 1 in 3 voters have seriously considered leaving due to financial stress.
- Demographics: Those leaving tend to be younger, college-educated professionals and high-earning households seeking lower-tax states like Florida, Texas, or New Hampshire.
Moving Back to the City?
While the state sees an overall net loss to other states, some data suggests a “post-COVID” return to urban centers. Reports from U-Haul indicate that while people fled cities during the pandemic, the first half of 2025 saw a robust inflow of new residents moving into the Boston metro area and its immediate suburbs.
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