Illinois lost 50,769 residents between 2019 and 2020 due to out-migration to other states, representing the third highest population loss among all 50 states, a new Tax Foundation study found.
The analysis, which is based on Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Census Bureau data, concluded that more Americans migrated from states with higher taxes and burdensome tax regimes to states with lower tax rates.
The Tax Foundation study, however, acknowledged that people move for a variety of reasons, including a quest for better jobs and education, proximity to family members, weather, landscape features and population density. But tax competitiveness remains among the factors in play when people contemplate interstate moves, the study’s author said.
In examining data reflecting IRS tax returns filed in the calendar year 2020 vs. calendar year 2019, the Tax Foundation found that 29 states experienced a net gain in individuals, while 21 states saw a net population loss due to interstate migration.
Migration data from private sources, such as U-Haul or United Van Lines, provides more timely information, but the IRS data is more comprehensive and sheds light on the movement of adjusted income among the states, according to the Tax Foundation.
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State Population Changes Due to Interstate Migration, 2019-2020
| Rank | State | % Net Gain / Loss in Interstate Migration |
| 1 | Idaho | 2.05% |
| 2 | Montana | 1.14% |
| 3 | Arizona | 1.10% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 1.05% |
| 5 | Delaware | 1.02% |
| 6 | Nevada | 0.91% |
| 7 | Maine | 0.84% |
| 8 | Florida | 0.78% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 0.73% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 0.66% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 0.65% |
| 12 | Utah | 0.54% |
| 13 | Vermont | 0.50% |
| 14 | Texas | 0.46% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 0.37% |
| 16 | Alabama | 0.35% |
| 17 | Georgia | 0.35% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.32% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 0.30% |
| 20 | Oregon | 0.28% |
| 21 | Wyoming | 0.25% |
| 22 | Colorado | 0.18% |
| 23 | Missouri | 0.15% |
| 24 | Indiana | 0.13% |
| 25 | Kentucky | 0.12% |
| 26 | Washington | 0.11% |
| 27 | New Mexico | 0.08% |
| 28 | Wisconsin | 0.01% |
| 29 | Rhode Island | 0.01% |
| 30 | West Virginia | -0.02% |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | -0.04% |
| 32 | Michigan | -0.07% |
| 33 | Ohio | -0.07% |
| 34 | Connecticut | -0.08% |
| 35 | Iowa | -0.10% |
| 36 | Virginia | -0.11% |
| 37 | Mississippi | -0.14% |
| 38 | Minnesota | -0.20% |
| 39 | Nebraska | -0.22% |
| 40 | Kansas | -0.22% |
| 41 | New Jersey | -0.26% |
| 42 | Maryland | -0.34% |
| 43 | Louisiana | -0.45% |
| 44 | Massachusetts | -0.54% |
| 45 | Hawaii | -0.66% |
| 46 | California | -0.67% |
| 47 | North Dakota | -0.72% |
| 48 | Illinois | -0.80% |
| 49 | Alaska | -0.97% |
| 50 | New York | -1.28% |
Source: Tax Foundation
