More are coming to Mass. than leaving it

[graywarrior]

By Peter Schworm
Globe Staff / December 25, 2009

For the first time in at least two decades, more US residents are moving to Massachusetts than moving out, a dramatic turnaround that has helped fuel the state’s sharpest population growth since 2001, according to new estimates from the US Census Bureau.

The increase, which was recorded from July 2008 to July 2009, stunned demographers accustomed to a yearly exodus of residents packing up and moving to warmer climes. Taking into account the number of people who left the state and the number who entered, the net gain was only 3,600, but it was the first time that number has been positive in 20 years.

The relative resilience of the Massachusetts economy, coupled with a softer housing market in the state, helped attract and retain residents, demographers said. At the same time, high unemployment and tumbling housing prices forced residents who might have left the state in better times to stay put.

“Massachusetts has stopped bleeding people to other parts of the country for the first time in years,’’ said Susan Strate, who manages the Population Estimates Program at the UMass Donahue Institute.

(Link)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/25/reversing_trend_more_are_coming_to_mass_than_leaving_it/




Count me & Mr Gray as two who returned in 2009.

[Forkboy]

1. If people can adapt to the weather it's a great place to live.

I like it here a lot.

Merry Christmas!! :toast:

[graywarrior]

2. I am so happy being back here!

Even the winter's don't bother me anymore.

[Ian David]

3. Now that we've got our first Democratic Governor in 20 years, of course. n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Yes, but keeping him will not be an easy task.

[geckosfeet]

4. The winter weather isn't as severe as the midwest or even western NY state.

The ocean seems to moderate it far inland - to about the Worcester area. But the snow can become a pain.

The occasional Nor'easter snow/rain/storm, the occasional peter'd out hurricane coming up the coast, but otherwise the weather is nice. Lower humidity than the south during the summer. Four full seasons - although springs seem to be getting shorter and cooler with each passing year.

But the people coming must be finding jobs. RI has a horrible unemployment rate. People may be moving up from there. I bet people who would have otherwise gone to the west coast are staying put due to the dreadful economy.

[xchrom]

5. Those damn homos!

Oh wait...

[pipi_k]

6. Born and raised in Western Mass...left it for a while back in 1974

but came back, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.


In the travel brochures, the Western part often gets ignored...or very little mention...but it's beautiful out here in the foothills of the Berkshires.

Winter sucks at my age, but Spring and Summer are glorious, and Autumn is spectacular, and those three seasons make winter worth it.

Anyway, it's good to know that others are getting an appreciation for our state.

:)

[graywarrior]

11. I lived in Becket for almost a year when I worked at the Kushi Institute

I absolutely loved being there.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. I wish this damn snow would melt...

It turned to ice last week and that was worse

[Major Hogwash]

9. It's Kerry's fault.

Everything is Kerry's fault in Massachusetts.

LoL

Even the "Big Dig" got blamed on him a few years ago.

I'd love to live in Boston, but I'd be afraid to ask directions from someone where to park my car.
Afraid I wouldn't understand them.

LoL

[pipi_k]

10. Pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd?

:7


what's really strange about Mass is that it's small, but the farther west you go, the less pronounced the accent gets, till you get out toward Springfield and points west, and it's just about totally gone.

[graywarrior]

13. Weird, ain't it?

Denis Leary is from out that way and he has no accent. Well, very little accent.

[NMMNG]

15. LOL

A few years ago I saw a car with MD tags and a bumper sticker that read "Genuine Massachusetts Bumpah Stickah for the Cah".

[graywarrior]

12. Straight ahead--as Steve Sweeney imitating a cop would tell you

[HughMoran]

14. That's interesting

Economics downturns can have unexpected results.