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Immigration Decline Is Reversing Post-COVID Population Growth in These Cities
U.S. Census Bureau data show immigration declines have erased gains in many metros, with some cities losing residents again after the pandemic rebound.
- Census Bureau data released May 14 shows the post-pandemic population rebound in major U.S. cities stalled or reversed in 2025, with almost all recording renewed losses after gains in 2024.
- Tightened immigration policies and high living costs have pushed residents to suburbs, according to demographer William Frey of the Brookings Institution; all 56 major metro areas experienced immigration declines.
- New York City recorded the nation's largest numeric loss of more than 12,000 residents, while Los Angeles lost nearly 4,000 and Boston over 1,000; midsize Celina, Texas, grew 25%.
- Midsized cities found a 'Goldilocks zone' where migration and new housing prevented sluggish growth seen in larger centers, said Census Bureau statistician Matt Erickson, citing Port Chester, New York's 4.1% gain versus New York City's 0.1% decline.
- David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, expects a steeper decline when next year's numbers arrive covering July 2025 to July 2026, as Memphis and Albuquerque have continued losing residents annually since the pandemic.
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32 Articles
32 Articles
St Louis Post-DispatchReposted by 
Muscatine Journal
Muscatine JournalMajor US cities see population decline in 2025
America's largest cities were bouncing back from their post-pandemic population losses. But the latest Census Bureau data shows that the post-COVID rebound for many metropolises stalled or reversed in 2025.
·St. Louis, United States
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Total News Sources32
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center29Last UpdatedBias Distribution91% Center
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
91% Center
C 91%
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