These NJ counties saw the largest population drop as residents migrate to other areas
New Jersey's population dropped again last year as more residents migrated to other states.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates show outmigration in North Jersey helped spur another decline in the state's population last year.
Bureau officials estimated the state lost more than 6,250 residents between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022, even though 11 of its 21 counties reportedly saw population growth.
MORE ON THE CENSUS: See a larger map and more information on the 2020 census data here
NJ mirrors a national trend
The near split mirrored national projections. Bureau officials estimated 52.5% of all U.S. counties saw population growth in 2021-22. Small counties were more likely to lose residents on the national level, while more than two out of three counties with populations of more than 100,000 added residents. Among them was New York County.
“The migration and growth patterns for counties edged closer to pre-pandemic levels this year,” said Christine Hartley from the Census Bureau’s population division. “Some urban counties, such as Dallas and San Francisco, saw domestic outmigration at a slower pace between 2021 and 2022, compared to the prior year."
Outmigration in New Jersey wins out
In New Jersey, where only Cape May and Salem counties have fewer than 100,000 residents, the trends failed to hold. Outmigration grew or remained high in the state's largest counties, overwhelming a significant increase in New Jersey's internal growth.
The state's estimated natural growth, resident births versus deaths, was about 19,750 in 2021-22, according to estimates. That estimate represents an increase of 6,000 from the prior year and a net difference of nearly 29,000 from 2019 to 2020, when the state saw its highest reported rates of COVID-19-related deaths.
Net migration, however, saw 24,850 more residents leave New Jersey than arrive from out of state.
The northern counties of Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union all saw net migratory declines of more than 4,900 residents. Bergen County's net loss of nearly 3,350 residents was more than triple that of the previous two years combined, according to Bureau estimates.
Largest population loss is in North Jersey
The outmigration helped lead northern counties to the largest overall population losses in the state. Essex, Passaic and Bergen counties combined to lose nearly 11,000 residents, according to Bureau estimates. All three had population losses the prior year, according to estimates.
The largest individual loss for 2021-22 was attributed to Essex County, with Bureau officials estimating a decline of nearly 4,650 residents. Passaic County was not far behind with an estimated loss of more than 4,400 residents. The county saw the largest relative loss at 0.9%. Bergen County comparatively saw a much smaller loss, about 1,880 residents or 0.2% of its population.
Pulling back most of the North Jersey declines was Ocean County. Census officials estimated a population gain of nearly 6,000 in 2021-22, equivalent to 0.9% of its prior population. Ocean County was one of only three counties to add more than 1,000 residents in 2012-22, according to Bureau estimates. Gloucester and Burlington counties respectively grew by nearly 2,000 and 1,700 residents, according to estimates.
Why are people leaving?
A Jan. 30 report released by the National Association of Realtors said residents continue to leave major population centers for less dense and more affordable areas.
In 2022, states such as Florida, Texas and the Carolinas took on the most domestic migrants, Bureau records show. California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey lost the most.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: These NJ counties saw the largest population drop due to migration
