Study: Minnesota experienced a net loss of 4,000 families in 2021 and 2022 despite “family-friendly” initiatives

09/23/2024 / By Laura Harris

A recent American Community Survey has revealed that Minnesota experienced a net loss of 4,000 families in 2021 and 2022 despite the presence of so-called “family-friendly” incentives.

Under Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota has received widespread praise for its supposedly family-centered policies. In fact, Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell argued that these measures demonstrated that “one major party cares about children and families” and even proposed a national agenda dubbed “Make America Minnesota Already.” (Related: Report: Tim Walz approved funding for Minnesota lab that worked with notorious Wuhan facility.)

However, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

According to a study by demographer Lyman Stone and sociologist Brad Wilcox published by the Institute for Family Studies, more families with children moved out of Minnesota than moved into it in 2021 and 2022. This caused a 0.3 percent decline in families with children, which ranked as the 13th worst nationwide for family migration.

Stone and Wilcox stated in their study that high housing costs, increasing crime rates and controversial school policies may outweigh the benefits of family subsidies like child tax credits and paid parental leave. They said these family subsidies are insufficient to keep families in a state where safety, education quality and affordable living are top concerns.

Moreover, the authors noted that parents sought suburban and rural areas with more space for remote work, lower taxes, job growth, quicker school re-openings and new school choice laws for better education options during the post-pandemic era.

Families have been migrating from blue states to red and purple states

States like New York, California and Oregon have also experienced the same despite offering benefits such as child tax credits, paid parental leave and universal school lunch programs.

California, the most populous state, experienced a net loss of 92,000 families with children during this period – a 1.2 percent decline. New York saw 71,000 families move away, while Oregon lost 7,000. Even Massachusetts, known for its high education standards and progressive politics, saw a 0.7 percent decline in families.

Across the board, blue states that voted for Democratic presidential candidates in 2016 and 2020 collectively lost 213,000 families, a net decline of 0.7 percent. Meanwhile, red states that voted for former President Donald Trump in both elections have gained a notable influx of families.

Florida, Texas and Tennessee are leading the charge in net family migration. Texas alone saw a net gain of 53,000 families, while Florida attracted 38,000. Purple states like Arizona and Georgia have also become popular destinations for families looking for better opportunities and living conditions. Arizona gained 16,000 families, while Georgia added 22,000.

In total, red states saw a 0.6 percent increase in family migration, while purple states saw a 0.4 percent rise.

Red and purple states, particularly in the Sunbelt and Mountain West, offered more opportunities for remote work, suburban living and lower housing costs compared to the expensive cities and states they left behind. Additionally, many red states reopened schools more quickly during the pandemic and implemented school choice laws that gave parents more control over their children’s education.

Meaning, cultural and economic factors have played a role in migration. The high cost of living, rising crime rates and housing shortages in blue states have made it difficult for middle-class families to thrive, despite the family-friendly policies that progressive leaders promote.

Watch this clip from “Paul Murray Live” on Sky News about Tim Walz’s brother Jeff Walz being “100 percent opposed” to the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

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