High earners who left DC during pandemic cost city $3 billion in tax revenue, data reveals

[mahatmakanejeeves]

High earners who left DC during pandemic cost city $3 billion in tax revenue, data reveals

Kyle Cooper | [e-mail]
September 21, 2023, 9:40 AM

About 31,000 people left D.C. during the pandemic and it cost the city a lot of money.

The District lost about $3 billion in tax revenue by people moving out. Many of them earned $100,000 to $200,000 a year. An analysis, released by the city using IRS data, showed many of those who left are between the ages of 26 and 44, and they took their money to the suburbs.

Many who left ended up in the close-in suburbs of Alexandria and Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia. But the top destination for D.C. residents who left was Prince George’s County.

{snip}

Kyle Cooper
Weekend and fill-in anchor Kyle Cooper has been with WTOP since 1992. Over those 25 years, Kyle has worked as a street reporter, editor and anchor. Prior to WTOP, Kyle worked at several radio stations in Indiana and at the Indianapolis Star Newspaper.

[e-mail]

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Ah, the grass grows better on the other side of the fence syndrome. A lot of people will find out

the hard way that it isn't always so. The more urban a city is, the more amenities available, more restaurants, more shopping, etc. Not everyone wants to drive to and from 50 to 100 miles a day. I found that a lot of younger families moved away mainly for the Schools available for their children vs. those in the city (I'm talking STL MO here). It was a shame for I felt that 'Hey, stay here, make a difference!'.

[appalachiablue]

3. I hear you and agree, #2. Brought up in a city and should have stayed in another, bah.

[appalachiablue]

2. There's a big difference between living in a city like DC and the suburbs. More house

and yard space in the burbs but typically less walkability and fewer sidewalks, mature trees, older neighborhoods with character and independent businesses. Chains and box stores are standard. Fewer cultural attractions and established medical facilities exist the further out you go, esp. in newer exurban enclaves. The suburban environment suits many well however. For people wanting close - in locations, the housing is desirable, expensive and scarce.

If you're not a remote worker you'll need to commute and travel further from the suburbs and spend more time in traffic than if based in the city. Note that mega supermarkets with 12 aisles and carts the size of small suvs are a feature in some suburbs. Lol. 🛒

[SWBTATTReg]

4. You make an interesting cultural observation. We noticed that a lot of the people/persons (not all,

by any means, but a large enough % of older adults) are moving back into the cities, just for the available amenities. We noticed that in our neighborhoods, as we see more older people are in fact moving back into the cities. And I guess it's what you're saying, more culture, more medical stuff, etc. and they can afford the housing, and of course, the younger workers/families are moving further out, for the Schools for their kids etc. Kind of a swapping routine, w/ folks in the rural areas are swapping places w/ those w/ kids etc. moving out to the supposedly better schools. Thing is, eventually they'll have to pay more for the schools in order to retain the teachers etc. as they get older, expect raises, and then retire.

You can't run away forever, but sometimes I wonder if some don't ever learn that.