Census Bureau: Upstate Continues to Face Population Loss

April 6th, 2018

Updated U.S. Census Bureau data shows that since 2010, only 16 of 62 counties in New York have grown in population. And among the top 10 counties in growth, just two – Saratoga and Tompkins — are Upstate. 45 of the state’s 62 counties lost population between 2010 and 2017. Three Upstate counties — Chenango, Delaware and Hamilton — lost more than 5 percent of their population from 2010 to 2017. Another five counties lost more than 4 percent.

Upstate New York continues to lose population because of the economic challenges the region is facing. The bottom line is that people go where the jobs and economic opportunity are. We need our state lawmakers to understand this, and take steps to improve the tax and regulatory climate for Upstate businesses.