The Northeast and Midwest are ceding people to the South and West, with migrants moving particularly to America's Sunbelt. Regulations on housing construction and other economic activities are making certain northern cities hostile to all but high-income groups. Between 2000 and 2010, the South and West combined grew by 23 million people, while the Northeast and Midwest grew by only 4.2 million. This growth was focused in the Sunbelt, moreover, namely major metro areas like Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Miami. Economic Freedom rates, which in America have been a driver of population shifts, are generally higher in the Sunbelt.

Source: Forbes January 14, 2017 02:14 UTC