Overview
- For the 12 months ending July 1, 2025, Massachusetts gained about 152,000 residents from other states and lost roughly 182,000, resulting in a net domestic outflow exceeding 30,000.
- Florida drew the most former Massachusetts residents at more than 21,000, followed by New Hampshire, New York, California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
- The state ranked fifth nationally for out-migration, trailing New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and California.
- International arrivals remain the only consistent source of population growth but slowed in 2025 to roughly 40,000, down from an average of more than 76,000 annually during 2022–2024, according to Pioneer Institute.
- Research cited in the coverage points to high taxes, housing and health care costs as key drivers of departures, with retirees overrepresented, while business and academic groups report lagging private-sector job and GDP growth and warn that potential federal immigration tightening in 2026 could further limit inflows.