Once Dream Destinations, Americans Are Now Leaving These Islands In Droves

While island living is increasing in popularity as remote work becomes more commonplace and more baby boomers age into retirement, island life is also becoming more unsustainable in many parts of the country. As economic pressures, aging infrastructures, and climate risk push residents to the mainland, many U.S. islands are reporting persistent population decline.

Many of the islands people are leaving are small communities off the Atlantic Coast. Of the 40 U.S. islands with the greatest population declines, 12 are in Florida, six are in North Carolina, and six are in New York, and four are in North Carolina. On islands like Tangier in Virginia, land area is literally shrinking as sea level rise erodes coastlines. Five of the 40 fastest-shrinking islands are in Alaska, where where harsh winters, limited access to health care, and shrinking job markets have accelerated outmigration from remote island communities. A closer look at the data reveals the islands Americans are leaving in droves.

To identify the U.S. islands people are leaving, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical population data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Islands were ranked based on the percentage decline in population from 2013 to 2023. Supplemental data on median household income, median home value, and housing vacancy status are also from the U.S. Census Bureau and are five-year estimates.

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -6.3% (-698 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 10.3%
• Median household income: $115,750
• Median home value: $717,700
• Total population: 10,424

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -6.3% (-178 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 7.1%
• Median household income: $195,045
• Median home value: $847,900
• Total population: 2,634

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -6.8% (-147 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 0.0%
• Median household income: $65,840
• Median home value: $233,600
• Total population: 2,005

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -9.1% (-8,093 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 22.0%
• Median household income: $67,014
• Median home value: $542,000
• Total population: 81,319

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -9.3% (-106 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 0.0%
• Median household income: $110,573
• Median home value: $508,400
• Total population: 1,028

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -9.8% (-615 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 43.1%
• Median household income: $119,427
• Median home value: $954,300
• Total population: 5,690

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -9.8% (-393 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 72.5%
• Median household income: $85,812
• Median home value: $446,400
• Total population: 3,620

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -10.3% (-195 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 76.3%
• Median household income: $58,056
• Median home value: $466,400
• Total population: 1,705

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -10.3% (-217 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 9.6%
• Median household income: $149,559
• Median home value: $813,000
• Total population: 1,892

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -11.6% (-480 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 29.9%
• Median household income: $98,279
• Median home value: $707,700
• Total population: 3,667

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -12.3% (-772 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 6.5%
• Median household income: $71,373
• Median home value: $314,800
• Total population: 5,497

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -12.5% (-449 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 34.2%
• Median household income: $88,311
• Median home value: $490,200
• Total population: 3,141

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -12.8% (-132 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 65.2%
• Median household income: $120,917
• Median home value: $564,700
• Total population: 903

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -13.1% (-113 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 70.9%
• Median household income: N/A
• Median home value: N/A
• Total population: 752

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -14.1% (-909 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 64.4%
• Median household income: $90,833
• Median home value: $611,600
• Total population: 5,548

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -14.6% (-229 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 2.5%
• Median household income: $69,107
• Median home value: $160,500
• Total population: 1,338

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -16.5% (-104 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 47.7%
• Median household income: $94,531
• Median home value: $834,800
• Total population: 525

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -16.6% (-937 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 42.7%
• Median household income: $76,776
• Median home value: $469,100
• Total population: 4,723

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -17.6% (-147 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 24.4%
• Median household income: $82,772
• Median home value: $187,500
• Total population: 688

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -18.3% (-238 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 6.3%
• Median household income: $67,788
• Median home value: $244,400
• Total population: 1,063

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -18.8% (-1,778 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 56.0%
• Median household income: $88,906
• Median home value: $485,000
• Total population: 7,702

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -19.4% (-320 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 34.2%
• Median household income: $161,344
• Median home value: $969,400
• Total population: 1,327

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -20.3% (-254 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 24.3%
• Median household income: $108,371
• Median home value: $1,049,100
• Total population: 996

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -20.6% (-255 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 7.8%
• Median household income: $93,125
• Median home value: $561,400
• Total population: 982

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -20.9% (-195 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 3.0%
• Median household income: $27,500
• Median home value: $91,400
• Total population: 737

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -21.7% (-1,089 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 0.0%
• Median household income: $47,726
• Median home value: $152,700
• Total population: 3,931

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -22.3% (-136 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 82.4%
• Median household income: $104,583
• Median home value: $1,105,600
• Total population: 473

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -22.8% (-899 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 30.6%
• Median household income: $99,063
• Median home value: $667,800
• Total population: 3,042

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -24.1% (-531 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 17.8%
• Median household income: $61,111
• Median home value: $287,300
• Total population: 1,668

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -24.2% (-318 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 60.1%
• Median household income: $103,884
• Median home value: $1,041,300
• Total population: 998

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -24.6% (-210 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 69.0%
• Median household income: N/A
• Median home value: $266,100
• Total population: 644

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -25.9% (-377 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 52.7%
• Median household income: $58,750
• Median home value: $295,500
• Total population: 1,080

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -31.7% (-361 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 48.6%
• Median household income: $72,891
• Median home value: $469,300
• Total population: 777

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -43.4% (-537 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 73.1%
• Median household income: $106,818
• Median home value: $453,500
• Total population: 699

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -45.4% (-706 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 35.0%
• Median household income: $98,938
• Median home value: $1,148,000
• Total population: 850

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -50.3% (-243 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 3.0%
• Median household income: $33,405
• Median home value: $135,900
• Total population: 240

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -56.6% (-475 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 28.5%
• Median household income: N/A
• Median home value: $292,400
• Total population: 364

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -67.7% (-203 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 30.9%
• Median household income: $27,813
• Median home value: $112,500
• Total population: 97

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -70.0% (-208 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 53.2%
• Median household income: N/A
• Median home value: N/A
• Total population: 89

• Population decline, 2013 to 2023: -81.8% (-238 residents)
• Housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use: 89.3%
• Median household income: $51,964
• Median home value: N/A
• Total population: 53