Ulster County Population Churn

Ulster County population churn: Younger people and couples are moving into the region, while families and older residents are leaving. Combined with lower birth rates, our schools are strained by low enrollment, which is causing some community schools to close. This trend is unsustainable and must be addressed — ideally by creating more higher-paying jobs and continuing to work to reduce the cost of living in our communities.

From Hudson Valley One:

"After years of stagnant population figures before the pandemic, Ulster county grew from about 181,800 residents in 2020 to roughly 183,300 today. More significantly, it was the only county in the region to record a net population gain purely from migration activity, adding 279 people and $169.2 million in adjusted gross income through migration.

The influx has altered the social and economic fabric of communities across Ulster County, including Kingston, New Paltz, Saugerties and Woodstock.

But regional planners, municipal leaders and economists warn that the migration gains coexist with deeper demographic problems. Birth rates across most Hudson Valley counties have fallen by roughly 25% over recent decades, while young adults frequently leave in search of lower housing costs or different job markets. The result is a shrinking youth population."