census

Where Chicagoans Are Most Likely to Move When They Leave the Windy City

Many call Chicago their "sweet home," but census data shows that more people are moving away from Chicago than moving to the city.

A report by Crain's Chicago Business using census data analyzed exactly where Chicagoans go when they leave the Windy City.

According to the report, between 2009 and 2013, the 10 metro areas with the highest average number of people moving from Chicago over the course of a year were: 

1. Champaign-Urbana (7,355)
2. Phoenix (7,251)
3. New York (6,435)
4. Milwaukee (6,410)
5. Los Angeles (5,554)
6. Atlanta (5,275)
7. Indianapolis (5,260)
8. Houston (5,252)
9. Bloomington, Illinois (5,092)
10. St. Louis (5,029)
TOTAL: 255,450

The report also analyzed Chicago transplants based on where they lived prior to their move to Chicago. Between 2009 and 2013, the 10 metro areas with the highest average number of people moving to Chicago per year were:

1. New York (7,385)
2. Atlanta (4,582)
3. Los Angeles (4,316)
4. St. Louis (3,925)
5. Phoenix (3,890)
6. Minneapolis (3,738)
7. Detroit (3,648)
8. Champaign-Urbana (3,635)
9. Indianapolis (3,600)
10. Milwaukee (3,533)
TOTAL: 176,271

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