FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALBANY, N.Y. – New Yorkers across the political spectrum are considering leaving the state. A new Empire Center report finds that Republicans and independent voters most often cite taxes as the reason, while Democrats point to the cost of living.
“Democrats think the cost of living is too high; Republicans and independents think taxes are too high,” said Zilvinas Silenas, president and CEO of the Empire Center. “Too many New Yorkers feel squeezed by both the cost of government and the cost of everyday life.”
Politics and government ranked second among Republicans, third among independent voters, and fourth among Democrats, underscoring that New Yorkers’ frustration extends beyond affordability. “More than 370 respondents told us in their own words why they or someone they know may leave,” Silenas said. “Again and again, they described feeling ignored and unconvinced that New York delivers value for what they pay.”
The desire to leave cuts across every demographic group measured. Roughly one-third of New Yorkers have considered leaving within the next five years, while another third know someone who plans to leave. Adults aged 75 and older were the only group in which a majority had neither considered leaving nor knew someone planning to do so.
The leading reasons also vary by region. Taxes rank first in Albany/Central New York and Western New York, while the cost of living leads in New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island. Regional concerns diverge beyond affordability as well: politics and government are especially prominent in Western New York, while crime and safety and housing affordability are cited most often in New York City.
The full report, Leaving New York, is available at this link or https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/leaving-new-york-2/
Data Source: Survey of Likely 2026 General Election Voters, July 6–8, 2026. Sample size 600, with margin of error ±4.00%, completed by Cygnal on behalf of the Empire Center for Public Policy.
About the Empire Center for Public Policy
The Empire Center is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank located in Albany, New York. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government.
About Cygnal
Cygnal is an award-winning public opinion and predictive analytics firm. The firm delivered a 95 percent accuracy rating in the 2024 election cycle and has conducted more than 4,800 polls over 3,100 campaigns in all 50 states and more than 20 countries, helping governors, Members of Congress, state leaders, corporations, and trade associations turn voter data into decisions.
Media contact:
Zilvinas Silenas
Empire Center for Public Policy
518.434.3100
[email protected]
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