More people are leaving upstate New York than moving into it, contributing to population declines in dozens of counties.
The trend has led to New York losing congressional seats and is about to cost the state some prestige. At some point this year, Florida is expected to surpass New York as the third most populous state, according to projections by The Associated Press.
New York state is growing slowly, but that growth is largely fueled by New York City, which has long attracted a large share of international immigrants and young adults, including many from upstate. The story is different north of the Westchester-Rockland county line.