Migration Trends Archives

Localities in green had more people move in than move out between 2020 and 2021. Localites in red had more people move out than move in. Note: This is not the same as overalll population growth or decline. Some localities gaining people through migration may still be losing population overall if deaths outnumber births -- and the number of new residents. Data courtesy of the IRS.

New migration data shows an uptick of people moving into some rural areas

by Dwayne Yancey May 16, 2023May 16, 2023

Most of Virginia is seeing more people move in than move out. It’s Northern Virginia that is driving the state’s overall out-migration.

View south along Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) from the overpass for Virginia State Route 694 (Lewinsville Road) in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with the skyline of Tysons Corner visible in the distance. Courtesy of Famartin.

Opinion

For ninth straight year, more people move out of Virginia than move in

by Dwayne Yancey May 8, 2023May 7, 2023

New data from the Internal Revenue Service show that Northern Virginia is losing the most people, and it seems to be primarily working-age adults, not retirees.

Here's how population has changed from 2020 to 2022. The darker the green, the more the population has grown. Yellow, orange and red show localities that have lost population. Courtesy of Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the University of Virginia.

Opinion

Here’s how unusual the population losses in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are

by Dwayne Yancey May 4, 2023May 3, 2023

New Census Bureau stats show other big Southern metros gaining population while Virginia’s top two are losing.

This map shows which localities have more people moving out than moving in -- or more moving in than moving out. Courtesy of Hamilton Lombard.

Opinion

Moving companies say Virginia’s net out-migration has stopped. But other data says it’s accelerating.

by Dwayne Yancey March 15, 2023March 15, 2023

Governor Glenn Youngkin has warned that more people are moving out of state than into the state.

Opinion

Japan is worried because its population is aging. Parts of rural Virginia are even older.

by Dwayne Yancey March 13, 2023March 12, 2023

Japan’s prime minister has been sounding the alarm. Five counties in Virginia are even older, though, and 15 more are close to it.

The Maple Queen and her court in 2019. From left - Haley Terry, Hannah Newlen, Carly Thomas. (Hannah Newlen was Maple Queen that year). Courtesy of The Recorder.

Opinion

Highland County’s Maple Festival won’t have a Maple Queen this year. Blame demographics (partly).

by Dwayne Yancey March 6, 2023March 4, 2023

A drought in births 17 years ago is now catching up with the county. Here’s how an aging population and declining birth rates have played out in the state’s smallest county.

Opinion

10 observations about Virginia’s new population estimates

by Dwayne Yancey February 3, 2023February 5, 2023

Some localities are winning in the marketplace — more people are moving in than moving out — but they’re still losing population because deaths outnumber births.

How net in-migration and out-migration varies from state to state. Source: Harvard and Census Bureau.

Opinion

Six reasons why people are moving out of Northern Virginia

by Vivian Watts February 3, 2023February 2, 2023

A Fairfax County state legislator responds to a previous Cardinal News column about net out-migration from Northern Virginia with possible explanations.

How the state's population has changed since 2020. Courtesy of Hamilton Lombard.

Opinion

New population figures show Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads losing population, parts of rural Virginia gaining

by Dwayne Yancey January 30, 2023January 28, 2023

The fastest-growing part of the state is now the Richmond area. There’s also some evidence that young adults are moving into many rural areas.

Screenshot of Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressing the legislature.

Opinion

Youngkin is worried about people moving out of Virginia. Here’s how big that out-migration is.

by Dwayne Yancey January 25, 2023January 28, 2023

Only nine other states are seeing more net out-migration than we are. Numerically, the problem is entirely because of people moving out of Northern Virginia.