CT gained nearly 57K residents from other states in 2022; most came from NY, Mass.

Connecticut’s post-pandemic population gains continued last year, as the state saw a net increase of nearly 57,000 residents from other states, driven by people coming from New York and Massachusetts, according to newly released U.S. Census data. 

Overall, 145,315 people moved to Connecticut from another state last year, while 88,733 residents relocated from Connecticut to elsewhere, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2021, Connecticut recorded a net population increase from other states of 10,040 residents. In 2019, before the pandemic hit, Connecticut lost a net of more than 15,000 residents to other states. The state lost population for most of the last decade. 

The state’s total population at the end of 2022 was 3,588,965, up a half-percent from 2021, according to Census data.

Most of last year’s population gains — 47,442 residents — came from Connecticut’s two neighbors, New York and Massachusetts.

In 2022, 50,670 New Yorkers moved to Connecticut, while 14,981 Nutmeg State residents moved to the Empire State. That gave Connecticut a net gain of nearly 35,689 New York residents.

Meanwhile, 21,256 Massachusetts residents moved to the state last year, while 9,503 Connecticut residents moved to the Bay State, for a net gain of 11,753 residents. 

Connecticut saw its largest number of departures to Florida. The state lost a net 6,144 residents to the Sunshine State last year. 

Connecticut also lost residents to Texas (a net loss of 2,053 people), South Carolina (3,736), North Carolina (353) and Pennsylvania (518).

Population trends have become a big political issue in Connecticut and elsewhere as the Northeast has continued to lose people to lower-cost and warmer southern states. 

However, Gov. Ned Lamont has touted post-pandemic population gains in Connecticut, saying the public health crisis made the state’s suburbs and smaller cities more attractive, particularly to residents in higher-cost New York.