On Jan. 21, the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2024 State-to-State Migration Flows, offering a clearer picture of how Connecticut’s population is shifting. The data confirms what many suspected: the state continues to attract new residents, but it also faces ongoing challenges in retaining the ones who already live here.
Roughly 114,723 people moved into Connecticut in 2024, while 88,858 left, resulting in a net gain of just 25,865 residents.
However, that out-migration number comes with a caveat. It only reflects people who moved from Connecticut to another U.S. state or to Puerto Rico. It does not account for those who left for a foreign country. While the Census captures those moving into Connecticut from abroad it cannot fully measure those leaving the U.S.
Compared to 2023, Connecticut’s trajectory has weakened. Last year, the state posted a higher in-migration (122,598), a smaller out-migration (91,384), and a stronger net gain of 31,214.
This year’s numbers show the state still gaining population—but more narrowly. Fewer people are moving in from other U.S. states, and a growing share of new residents are arriving from abroad.
That may sound encouraging on paper, but the underlying dynamics suggest otherwise. Connecticut is not becoming a magnet for growth. It’s churning. Large numbers arrive, large numbers leave, and population stability is increasingly dependent on international arrivals and migration within the Northeast.
Where New Residents Come From
According to the Census, the top sources of in-migration to Connecticut were:
- Foreign Countries: 31,900
- New York: 25,095
- Massachusetts: 11,612
- Florida: 6,040
- New Jersey: 5,628
It’s important to understand what “international migration” means in Census data. The Census does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. Anyone who reports living abroad a year ago and now lives in Connecticut is counted. This includes naturalized citizens, lawful residents, refugees, students, temporary visa holders, and undocumented immigrants.
So, while the 31,900 figure is significant, it doesn’t indicate legal status—just where the person lived previously.
Two patterns emerge:
First, Connecticut’s largest source of growth is from abroad, not domestic appeal. Nearly one in three new residents came from abroad.
Second, the rest of the growth is largely regional. New York and Massachusetts alone account for more than 36,000 new residents.
Connecticut isn’t attracting people from across the country, it’s recycling population within the Northeast.
That isn’t economic strength. That’s proximity.
Where Residents Are Moving
Census data show Connecticut’s top destinations for out-migration were:
- New York: 15,160
- Massachusetts: 9,936
- Florida: 9,767
- California: 4,853
- Pennsylvania: 4,704
Beyond these, thousands more left for North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Florida, however, stands out. Nearly 10,000 people moved there in a single year, making it a top destination for those looking to make a clean break.
Once you set aside the regional shuffling with New York and Massachusetts, the pattern becomes clearer: when people leave for good, they go south.
How Connecticut Ranks Nationally
Among the 50 states, Connecticut ranks 30th in total in-migration and 28th in total out-migration.
That puts the state firmly in the middle. It is not a destination powerhouse like Texas or Florida, and it is not bleeding residents at the rate of states like California or New York.
It is stuck in the middle: stable enough to avoid collapse, but not dynamic enough to drive real growth.
The top states for in-migration in 2024 were:
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- New York
- North Carolina
The states with the highest out-migration were:
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Big states move big numbers. The direction is direction. Texas and Florida gain far more than they lose. Connecticut, meanwhile, barely stays above water.
Connecticut vs. New England
Within New England, Connecticut ranks second in both in-migration and net population gain, behind Massachusetts. Massachusetts gained 34,996 residents. The rest of the region posted modest, but still positive, gains: Maine +16,803 residents, Rhode Island +15,012, New Hampshire +11,624, and Vermont +11,315.
On the surface, Connecticut’s second-place finish looks strong. In context, it’s modest. Massachusetts has nearly twice the population, so larger migration totals are expected. Connecticut’s numbers reflect size and geography, not a breakout performance.
The Cost of Comfort With Mediocrity
Connecticut lacks broad national appeal. Few people are moving in from the Midwest, Southeast, or Southwest. At the same time, thousands of residents continue moving to precisely those regions.
That is what stagnation looks like. Not collapse. Not revival. Just enough motion to avoid headlines while long-term competitiveness slips away.
It’s not a crisis. But it is a slow bleed.
And it’s frustrating—because Connecticut has the fundamentals: strong schools, beautiful towns, access to major markets. It should be far more competitive than the data suggest.
Population trends shape everything: labor markets, housing, education, health care, even congressional representation. These are not abstract numbers. They are the bedrock of a state’s future.
But instead of addressing root causes, the state too often leans on short-term fixes: spending more, regulating more, and creating another initiative to “retain residents.” As if the problem is a lack of programs.
It’s not. It’s a lack of reasons to stay.
People leave every state. That’s normal. But when too many people look at Connecticut’s taxes, housing, cost of living, and regulatory climate, and walk away, that’s a policy failure.
So no, Connecticut isn’t hemorrhaging population. But it isn’t winning either. It’s squandering advantages most states hope for—and then acting surprised when the scoreboard doesn’t move.
