PA on Top Ten lists for people moving out. Here's why they're leaving
For the first time, Pennsylvania is making an appearance on two "Top Ten" lists of states from which more people move from than move to.
The state lost about 18,000 households since the pandemic.
Pennsylvania landed on both on the United Van Lines list (No. 5 in 2022) and a list published by Forbes (No. 4 in 2022). United Van Lines uses its own metrics, while Forbes uses address request changes compiled by the United State Postal Service.
Why are people leaving Pennsylvania?
The United Van Lines study shows that employment is the top reason for leaving Pennsylvania (about 33 percent), followed by wanting to be closer to family (32 percent), retirement (18 percent), "lifestyle" (14 percent), cost of living (7 percent) and health (6 percent).
The Forbes list puts it this way: "Pennsylvania’s decline of 18 thousand-plus households directly results from job losses from the pandemic. The state’s sometimes sketchy weather doesn’t help either. Many families are seeking better employment odds in nearby states, while a considerable number of them are taking the opportunity to head for warmer weather and a lower cost of living."
Another reason for declining population, highlighted in movebuddha.com, which aggregates the nation's moving trends, is death.
Pennsylvania is second only to Florida for numbers of senior citizens. About 20 percent of the Commonwealth's residents are over 65, while the Sunshine State marks seniors as 21 percent of its population.
How we're doing locally Bucks County population remains stable and largely white
What other states join Pennsylvania as places to ditch?
United Van Lines lists the following as the Top Ten states that people are leaving: 1. New Jersey, 2. Illinois, 3. New York, 4. Michigan, 5. Wyoming, 6. Pennsylvania, 7. Massachusetts, 8. Nebraska, 9. Louisiana, 10. California.
The Forbes list: 1. California, 2. New York, 3. Illinois, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. Massachusetts, 6. Washington, 7. Colorado, 8. Indiana, 9. Michigan, 10. Wisconsin.
Where are Pennsylvanians going?
Since the pandemic, Florida is the top choice for Pennsylvanians, with almost 20 percent, or 1 in 5, headed South, according to movebuddha.com. This is followed by California (9 percent), Texas (9 percent), North Carolina (9 percent) and New York (5 percent).
In Bucks County, which places are losing population most?
Levittown tops the movebuddha.com list, stating that two times more people are leaving the iconic post-World War II suburban city than are moving into it. Tied with Levittown for biggest Pa. population losers are Monroeville (Allegheny County), Norristown (Montgomery County) and Lebanon (the city in Lebanon County), according to the list.
JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania continues losing population to other states. Here's why
