New York City Residents Really Are Headed Toward the Exits—Here’s Where They’re Shopping for Homes (and It’s Not Just Florida)

Fed up with sky-high home prices and the surging cost of living, New York City dwellers are increasingly searching beyond the five boroughs for a new place to settle—although most are not venturing far.  

To identify these would-be homebuyers' top relocation destinations, economists at Realtor.com® looked at how many people living in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island were perusing listings outside the Big Apple on the Realtor.com marketplace.  

Notably, the data analysis covers the third quarter of 2025 from July through September, predating the victory of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral election Tuesday.

The listings data has revealed that most New Yorkers thinking about getting a fresh start beyond the five boroughs preferred to stay within their home state, which commanded 14.1% of their views, making it the most sought-after area for Big Apple residents.

Compared with the same period a year ago, the share of NYC out-of-city listing views for New York State were up 1.1%, signaling a growing demand among those in the Big Apple. 

Continuing the trend of seeking a change of scenery, but not too great a one, New Jersey emerged as the second-most popular state where NYC locals were looking for homes to buy, at 12.9%.

In fact, the Garden State saw the biggest annual increase in the share of NYC residents eyeing properties among the top 10 relocation hubs, climbing 1.4% from the third quarter of 2024 to the same period in 2025.

New York City dwellers who have moved to nearby towns in Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, or New Jersey markets like Bayonne or Jersey City commute to work in the Big Apple while enjoying suburban living.

Located a little farther afield, but still within a two-hour drive from Manhattan, Pennsylvania clinched the No. 3 spot on the list of states homebuyers from NYC are flocking to, with the share of listing views rising 1.2% from last year, to 10.7%.

Looking at recent housing data, the financial appeal is obvious: In September, the median list price in Philadelphia was $384,900, nearly $375,000 below New York City’s median for the month, according to the Realtor.com monthly housing market trends report. 

Pennsylvania also boasted the nation’s most affordable housing market in September, with the typical home in Pittsburgh costing just $254,950. In October, Pittsburgh’s median price decreased even further to $250,000. 

"There's a growing trend of New Yorkers looking to leave the city but remain close to it rather than uprooting their lives altogether," says Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner. "Affordability remains the driving factor, but New Yorkers are growing more interested in remaining near the city with their next home purchase than they are in going somewhere far-flung to buy a home." 

Chris Raad, owner of Harvey Z. Raad Realtors in Allentown, PA, tells Realtor.com that the area of Lehigh Valley, located about 90 miles from Manhattan, has become "a suburb of New York" in recent years. 

"We definitely have seen a lot of interest in coming into Pennsylvania, notably the Lehigh Valley," says Raad, noting that the newcomers are drawn to the region's lower cost of living and more reasonable property taxes. 

He adds that homebuyers get far more value for their money in places like the Lehigh Valley compared with New York City. 

"Typically, you're getting a lot more house for the dollar amount that you're spending," says Raad.

According to the broker, the two main draws for New York City transplants are affordability and a more relaxed lifestyle, while still being within relatively easy commuting distance to work.

Sunshine State retains its appeal

Sun-soaked Florida has long been viewed as the go-to destination for New York City dwellers, especially those of retirement age looking to swap harsh winters for warm ocean breezes for a relatively affordable price.

And while the Sunshine State continues to attract Big Apple residents, with their share of listing views reaching 10.4% in the summer and early fall of 2025, Berner notes that Florida saw the most dramatic decline in NYC out-of-town viewership, down 1.3% compared with the same period in 2024.

In the post-pandemic boom years, Florida has been struggling with housing affordability, driven in part by an insurance crunch associated with natural disasters and rising maintenance fees, which are now seeing locals heading for the exits.

But Ana Bozovic, a Miami-based real estate agent and founder of Analytics Miami, tells Realtor.com that "Florida is continuing to emerge as a path of least resistance for entrepreneurship and wealth."

North Carolina and Connecticut each captured 5.1% of the out-of-city views in the third quarter, followed by Ohio, at 5%, Massachusetts, at 3.5%, Michigan, at 3.2%, and Georgia rounding out the top 10 also with 3.2%. 

Berner notes that although Southern and Midwestern states remain relevant, their share of views from NYC dwellers has declined over the last year, suggesting that fewer city residents are willing to move far from home.

The Mamdani effect

In light of Mamdani’s election win, real estate agents in areas outside of the five boroughs, from New Jersey to Connecticut, have reported a surge in inquiries from wealthy New York City residents eyeing relocation. 

Some have cited concerns that Mamdani’s political priorities, aimed at instituting a rent freeze for more than 2 millions tenants and making city busses free to ride, could lead to higher taxes and a lower quality of life.  

Bozovic, from Florida, says her home state is bracing for an influx of high-income NYC residents.

"With Mamdani’s recent victory in the New York City mayoral race, we can expect more capital and high-income earners to relocate here," she says.