In 2023, more people moved to Ohio than left, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. This is good news, as Ohio’s population is expected to decrease by about 6% over the next 30 years.
Robert Graham, an expert from the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, explains that several factors are behind this trend. Large employers are moving to Ohio, especially in cities like Columbus and Hamilton County, creating new jobs.
People are willing to move for job opportunities, and improvements in infrastructure, like transportation, make Ohio more appealing. Additionally, the state has more affordable housing compared to other places.
Graham also points out that fewer people are leaving Ohio. This may be due to the state’s aging population, with more older people staying in Ohio rather than moving to places like Florida. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, more people may choose to stay close to family or in communities with better services.
In fact, Graham believes the trend of fewer people leaving and more people moving in could continue. 2023 marked the third time since 2005 that Ohio saw more people move in than out. However, the state’s population is still expected to decline by nearly 6% by 2050, unless something changes in birth rates, death rates, or migration patterns.
The state is also trying to tackle “brain drain,” which refers to young professionals and college graduates leaving Ohio for job opportunities in other states. In addition, about a million people moved within Ohio in 2023.