file photo by Boyd Loving
By Erin Petenko | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on November 17, 2016 at 1:16 PM, updated November 17, 2016 at 3:25 PM
More than 200,000 residents left New Jersey last year, new Census data shows.
The state lost 17,000 more people than it gained back, as residents left for other states and overseas, according to the 2015 American Community Survey. The loss could signal potential future issues with its population and economy.
New Jersey residents — 227,000 of them — abandoned the state ranked dead last in income growth last year, and with the highest property taxes.
Most of what the state gained back came from foreign immigration, which netted the state 62,000 new residents last year. Earlier data suggests that many of those immigrants come from Asia, as the region accounted for 45 percent of new foreign migrants in 2014.
Some data has indicated that source of the population is falling as well, since better job growth in other states has led immigrants to choose more welcoming areas.
Births in New Jersey, though declining, are still high enough to replace the loss of migrants. But the coming decades could see an era of shrinking population and the economic problems that come with it.
Poor population growth is closely tied with economic issues. New Jersey relies on an influx of residents to grow its industries and contribute to government services.
“New Jersey residents — 227,000 of them — abandoned the state ranked dead last in income growth last year, and with the highest property taxes.” Scenarion from a former lifetime NJ resident who fled: One partner loses a good paying job while one has the option to telecommute; property tax increase (22%) from reassessment and no children to use the schools made the decision on us. We miss friends, I miss the house we sold but we do not miss the congestion, traffic and high taxes. I do wonder about those “empty nesters” or childless couples who developers tell us are the supposed audience for some of the proposed downtown development.
How will the state and municipalities pay all those unsustainable public sector pension and “pay as you go” (PAYGO) platinum health care bills when NJ has more people leaving than coming, plus NJ as a state ranked dead last in income growth last year? Are the financially minded Council members like Jeff and Ramon, and Vince at the BoE worried about this in a Ridgewood context, or will we just see our taxes keep going up more than the 2% annual cap every year going forward to pay these excessive bills?
It’s not “how” 12:15…because they won’t. And the day these Union thugs and all their lackeys get the memo it will be awesome, but too late. And the state will go completely down the tubes. Like 933 I’m long gone and I laughed all the way to the bank after some poser from Brooklyn bought my house. Yea, he’s that stupid with the ” great schools” thing. Can’t believe that BS line still sells houses in RW.
Ridgewood tax and spend will drive most of us 20 plus year residents out in the next 10 years.Taxes and mismanagement key decision drivers,
1.59 can you clarify the point that you backed up the trucks and had the last laugh…?..?