More than one in four New Yorkers plan to leave New York within the next five years, a Siena College poll released this week found.
The poll, which took a broad view of how New Yorkers feel about the state, what they do to relax and what they like or dislike about the state, found 70% of respondents are happy living here, while 30% wished they live someplace else.
At the same time, 71% of those polled plan to continue living in New York five years from now; 27% plan to leave.
“Large majorities of New Yorkers say the quality of life in the Empire State is excellent or good, and that they are happy that they live here,” said Siena College Research Instittue Director Don Levy. “But about 30% say they wish they lived elsewhere and 31% plan to leave New York when they retire."
The survey comes as New York has struggled with retaining its population with nation-leading outmigration over the last several years. Gov. Kathy Hochul has called the state's population loss a problem, and has pledged to expand housing as a way to alleviate cost-of-living issues facing New Yorkers.
Still, majorities of people polled pointed to things they like about the state:
- 73% cited access to quality education.
- 79% enjoy the availability of leisure activities.
- 72% pointed to access to quality health care.
- 70% believe the state is a place where people can become successful.
But majorities of New Yorkers poll also agreed there are a range of problems facing the Empire State.
- 67% rate the state fair or poor on affordability
- 60% call it a fair or poor place to retire
- 57% say it is a place where the political system does not necessarily work for people like them.
- And New Yorkers are split over whether they feel safe from crime: 51% rate that issue good or excellent, 49% call it fair or poor.
“Is New York perfect? New Yorkers appreciate many aspects of life here – education, healthcare, the people and yes, even the weather – but affordability, crime and politics weigh on many," Levy said.
The poll of 406 adults was conducted from March 6 to March 9. It has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.