Tompkins County

MIGRATION & IMMIGRATION


An essential value of the American lifestyle is the freedom of mobility. The Census asks respondents to identify if they lived in the same residence 5 years prior to the survey. If not, they are asked the location of their previous residence. Between 1995 and 2000, only 54.13 percent of Americans remained in the same house. This rate has been fairly steady: between 1985 and 1990, 53.29 percent remained in the same house.

Regionally, the rates differ greatly. Nevada’s population was the most mobile. About 62.6 percent of Nevada residents in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of the Nevadans living in different houses, 40.2 percent were new arrivals to the state. On the other hand, Pennsylvania’s population was the most permanent. Only 36.5 percent of Pennsylvanians in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of these people, only 15.8 percent were new arrivals to Pennsylvania.


Migration, 2000: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1995 Number Percent
Same house 38,667 41.89%
Different house 53,633 58.11%
Same county 16,856 18.26%
Different county 31,532 34.16%
Same state 14,428 15.63%
Different State 17,104 18.53%
Elsewhere in 1995* 5,245 5.68%
Total Population Age 5+ 92,300 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 34,734 39.10%
Different house 54,101 60.90%
Same county 18,385 20.70%
Different county 31,678 35.66%
Same state 14,790 16.65%
Different State 16,888 19.01%
Elsewhere in 1985* 4,038 4.55%
Total Population Age 5+ 88,835 100.00%

* "Elsewhere" includes those living in U.S. Island Areas, in foreign countries, and at sea.

Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN).

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