Why is New York shrinking?

“…the emigrants are disproportionately concentrated among 25-40 year olds. This could corroborate the notion that jobs are the primary motivation for leaving the city”

I’m in this age group. I left New York. (My partner still has a flat here.)

I left because of taxes. I’m in my prime earning years and need my savings to compound, whether through forced savings in the form of a 15-year mortgage or explicit saving in retirement accounts and illiquid investments. If the Census asked, I probably wouldn’t say it that bluntly. But it’s unscientific to assume someone under 40 wouldn’t move due to taxes.