New Jersey Population Growth Slows as Taxes Push Some to Flee

New Jersey is among the slow-population-growth states in the U.S., and an analysis of economic data shows that it shares a trait with other Northeastern states losing political power: high income taxes.

New Jersey’s population grew 4.5 percent to 8.79 million from 2000 to 2010 as its most prosperous areas were little changed, including Bergen County with a 2.4 percent gain, according to 2010 Census figures released yesterday in Washington. New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine had increases ranging from 0.4 percent to 4.2 percent, less than half the 9.7 percent national rate.