We have had a young family of our church, move for the same reasons. They moved south... Well, they moved to south Dakota anyway...

He's a contractor, chiefly in concrete..and doing well.
I do take a bit of umbrage with folks who lump all New Yorkers together. Like many states (and I have lived in several), there is a vast difference between the usual country folk and the big city dweller.
Those who go to other states and make a bore of themselves, are usually of the big city variety, most often from the "Big Rotten Apple", and people impressed by themselves, but not impressing others.
Yes; we even get that attitude here in upstate, western NY. We are all "hicks" to them; which only shows just how provincial and "caught up in the bubble" they are.
We just don't pay them much mind...allowing for their inexperience, and their ignorance of facts. NYC is about 400 miles from my home.... and a far different breed of cattle.
Still; I don't want to paint with too broad a brush, since there must be some worthwhile folks caught up in the city life.
I can see it now, a best seller book...." AN ISLAND OF TWO DOZEN WONDERFUL PEOPLE;... MANHATTAN" ".
Just yesterday my son and I were talking; if we were not so connected by family, properties, businesses and sundry other connections, we would likely be moving soon.
Actually, where we live, and the people who live here are great, but like it or not, tied to the nut factory, and now that they have elected to kill their own city,
we don't want to be required to pay for the funeral.
Of course, the whole country will likely have to pay, for the gross STUPIDITY they committed down there, a couple days ago..