One in three New Yorkers now say they plan to abandon the Empire State within five years, driven above all by a cost of living that has spiraled beyond the reach of ordinary families.
According to Sean Hannity, a new Marist poll shows an overwhelming 86% of respondents believe New York is no longer affordable for the average family, up from 82% in 2025. That sense of economic squeeze is translating into action, with 40% of those eyeing the exits citing the cost of living as their primary motivation and another 21% pointing to a deteriorating quality of life.
Taxes and politics long-standing flashpoints in a deep-blue state are also pushing residents away, with 15% blaming taxes and 10% saying politics are driving their decision to leave. Another 7% say they are simply finished with the states harsh weather, while 51% of New Yorkers overall report that quality of life is getting worse.
These grim assessments arrive as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advances a contentious 9.5% property tax increase, a move critics say will punish homeowners and renters alike. The plan has already triggered backlash from Black homeowners and warnings from experts that rents could climb even higher for tenants already on the brink.
Mamdani has defended the hike as a last resort to fund his $127 billion budget if Albany and Gov. Kathy Hochul refuse to enact a separate income tax increase on residents earning $1 million or more. While Hochuls approval rating has ticked up to 46%, her best showing since October 2021, a majority of 56% of registered voters still believe state leaders are steering New York in the wrong direction.
Despite that discontent, Hochul holds a 17-point advantage over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, 50% to 33%, months ahead of the November gubernatorial contest. For now, the data paint a sobering picture: many New Yorkers are actively weighing their options and a significant share are looking for the exit.
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