"Brain Drain in the Big Apple: Study Reveals Alarming Exodus of Low- and Middle-Income New Yorkers. A new report from the Citizens' Budget Commission has shed light on a disturbing trend in New York City, where the number of residents leaving the city exceeded the number of new arrivals in 2025. The study found that low- and middle-income New Yorkers were disproportionately affected, with many citing rising costs of living and gentrification as major factors in their decision to flee. As the city grapples with the implications of this mass exodus, policymakers and residents are left wondering what the future holds for the city's affordability and social fabric."
New York City lost more residents than it gained in 2025, with low- and middle-income New Yorkers leaving at higher rates, a Citizens' Budget Commission study found.
