[Heartofsong83]

Could they be escaping from liberalism?

Honestly, I am not a big fan of urban sprawl, but neither do I support the liberal ways, extreme costs and high crime of the big cities today. I'd rather settle out on a farm, or in a smaller community.

The same trends are probably occuring all throughout the industrialized world.

[Rakkasan1]

take note that all the bunny-huggin', UN lovin' millionaires,celebs, and billionaires own vast tracts of land in Montana.

city life is what they want for the 'rest of them'.

[SF Republican]

Florida, Arizona and Nevada - Anyone needing a new carrier may want to try air conditioning - hours are long and hot but you only work 6 months and probably make 2 years income.

[DM1]

I fled to NH from Mass partially for housing costs but mostly because i could not stand taxachusetts any longer.

[MplsSteve]

The downside to this migration is that a number of those who are leaving are liberals too.

They move somewhere else and bring their terrible ideas with them. They vote for liberal Dems in the areas they move to and eventually they change the political dynamic of that area - and certainly not in a good way!

Look what liberals from Massachusetts and New York have done to states like New Hampshire and Vermont!

[Cecily]

The opposite is happening in Atlanta. People are moving back into the city proper because they are sick of the long commutes if they work in or close to town.

[ancient_geezer]

Northeasterners are moving South and West. West Coast residents are moving inland.

Just d'mn, there goes the neighborhood ;O/

[MarDav]

I moved from northeast New Jersey (just outside NYC) down here to North Carolina. Love it. The town I was born and raised in ceased to be the town I was born and raised in, so, to paraprhase RR: "I didn't leave my little town. My little town left me."

[Southack]

Left-wing rules (e.g. smoking bans, housing permit restrictions, etc.) and higher-taxes contribute to make urban areas less desireable to all but the biggest spenders and the underclass that services them...

That's one side of the equation.

Lower home prices, lower taxes, fewer rules...and high technology finally being available in rural areas (e.g. internet access, FedEx, etc.) are another part of the equation.

Then factor in better weather, better air quality, better roads, less crime...and suddenly the population shift makes sense.

Now add in the fact that lots of new jobs are being created in non-union "right to work" states at wages that are competitive to jobs in higher-cost regions, and this demographic shift appears not only inevitable, but also urgent.

[Reaganesque]

Just a thought but, cities are controlled, mostly, by Liberals, right? They have their way politically on just about every subject, right? Then, if their policies and way of doing things is so wonderful, why is the crime rate so high in big cities? Why are racial tensions so high in big cities? Why is homelessness rampant in big cities? Guns are banned but gun violence is commonplace. Surely, if Liberalism is the very definition of compassion and tolerance, big cities should be paradises, shouldn't they? And yet...

[pabianice]

Lived in the city. Never again.

My little piece of heaven. Took 27 years to get there but it was worth it. And the chief of police issues LTCs "for all lawful purposes."

[jpl]

This is news? It's only been going on for about 50 years or so.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"Could they be escaping from liberalism?"

No, they bring liberalism with them. They just want to live in nicer places.

Michael Frazier

[Naptowne]

This trend has only been going on for about 60 years.

[caisson71]

The problem with many fleeing big cities to the rural areas is that they recognize, via their pocketbook, that they cannot live comfortably amongst liberalism (unsustainable)but still adhere to liberalism philosophically. They move to more conservative locals and immediately want to make it like the places they left. In fact, they quickly communicate with their liberal support systems and initiate liberal political processes, much to the dismay of locals who have openly invited them to share their lifestyles as good neighbors should. Before you know it, taxes are increased, private property is in danger, liberal organisations dominate the news, organized neighborhood organisations (dominated by politically savy liberals) have rights local individual citizens are denied and life becomes like the hell the liberals left.

[debg]

I just moved from Miami to Ocala, FL and feel like I moved back to America! Problem is, a lot of Northeasterners are moving down here as well. Ocala is growing quickly and jobs are plentiful.

[RightWhale]

It's a short drive to several mountain ranges, and it's within driving distance of the beach.

How will the drive be when gasoline is $5 a gallon? Somewhere there is a tradeoff between housing and transportation.

[Faraday]

The largest decreases from the most populous metropolitan statistical areas (from Table 3. of the report) are:

Area / 2000-04 annual rate per 1000 / average annual number

San Francisco-Oakland-Freemont / -14.7 / -60,984

New York-Norther New Jersey-Long Island / -11.4 / -211,014

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy / -9.5 / -41,851

Los Angles-Long Beach-Santa Ana / -9.3 / -177,780

Not exactly the conservative hot beds. These are significant because the represent regional declines, not just people moving to the suburbs which is common in most major cities.

[showme_the_Glory]

I traded my view of Puget Sound for a view of Lake Ray Hubbard. The people, politics, and climate are all a 100% improvement.

[Jorge]

I would love to live in Center City Philly, but would have to pay 3 times what I'm paying for the Apt I have now.
I worked in the city for years and got really tired of paying city wage tax.

So I have all the benefits of living and working in the suburbs and I'm only a 20 minute drive from downtown Philly when I want to go.

[Jorge]

I would love to live in Center City Philly, but would have to pay 3 times what I'm paying for the Apt I have now.
I worked in the city for years and got really tired of paying city wage tax.

So I have all the benefits of living and working in the suburbs and I'm only a 20 minute drive from downtown Philly when I want to go.