If you’ve been thinking about leaving your state, you’re not alone. Across the United States, working Americans are relocating at record rates. Rising living costs, remote work flexibility, and quality of life concerns are pushing people to pack up and look elsewhere.
These are the states people are quietly walking away from and the reasons why.
Los Angeles
California
The cost of everything is just too high. Even with strong job markets in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, many residents feel like they’re barely breaking even. Skyrocketing rent, high state taxes, and day to day expenses are pushing working professionals to states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.
New York
New York
The city that never sleeps is also the city many cannot afford. While remote work has untethered people from the office, it also made many realize they did not need to pay New York prices anymore. Between cost of living pressure and safety concerns, many working adults are trading Manhattan for the suburbs or leaving the state entirely.
Chicago
Illinois
Chicago continues to lose residents, especially working families. High property taxes, growing crime concerns, and limited economic upside outside of key metro areas have made nearby states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and even Tennessee more attractive.
Portland
Oregon
Portland’s popularity has cooled off. What once felt like a progressive haven now feels unstable for some residents. Urban challenges, rising costs, and infrastructure issues are contributing to an outflow of working adults who had moved there for a better lifestyle.
Boston
Massachusetts
The job market is strong, but the day to day cost is punishing. Boston and nearby towns are home to top universities and tech companies, but many workers are choosing to leave because they simply cannot get ahead. The appeal of warmer and cheaper states like North Carolina or Georgia continues to grow.
Hawaii
Hawaii
Living in paradise comes at a steep price. While Hawaii saw a remote work boom during the pandemic, many who moved there found it unsustainable long term. With high food costs, limited job opportunities, and geographic isolation, some workers are heading back to the mainland in search of stability.
Seattle
Washington
Even Seattle tech workers are moving on. Once a magnet for innovation and quality of life, Seattle has become one of the most expensive cities in the country. Rising costs and corporate policy shifts are pushing many to consider more affordable states with room to grow like Utah, Idaho, or Colorado.
Leaving a state is not always about dissatisfaction. For many working Americans, it is about survival. They are searching for space, stability, and a better return on their hard work. The great migration is no longer just a trend. It is a movement.