College-age adults may be leaving Fairfield County, but they”™re returning later in their careers, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Between 2006 and 2010, more than 2,900 people ages 18 to 19 left the county every year on average, according to an analysis of Census data by the Business Journal. But during that same time period, more than 3,200 people between the ages of 25 and 35 moved into the county every year on average.
“A lot of it is based on the career opportunities available,” said Lisa Mercurio, director of the Fairfield County Information Exchange. “We do see in the 25 to 35 age range, when salaries are increasing, that there will be movement back into the region.”
Without knowing what proportion the migrating population represents in relation to the county”™s demographic breakdown, it can be difficult to tell how statistically relevant the information is, Mercurio said.
But she said the data are reflective of trends the Information Exchange has seen in Fairfield County. Students will often leave the region for college and while there are both low- and high-paying jobs in the region, there is a significant proportion of high-paying jobs for people in that stage of their life, she said.
“Fairfield County is a very fluid location,” Mercurio said. “We have a large number of international migration and we have a lot of people from outside the state moving inside. But when it”™s just as easy for people to come here, it”™s just as natural to move out. I don”™t know if it”™s a good or bad thing.”
The Information Exchange is an initiative of the Business Council of Fairfield County.
Overall, most 18- to 24-year-olds who left Fairfield County stayed in Connecticut, moving to either New Haven, Tolland or Hartford counties. However, many also left for Alachua County, Fla., where the University of Florida is based, as well as for New York City.
The top three points of origin for the 25- to 35-year-olds who moved to Fairfield County included New Haven County, New York City and Westchester County. The next largest groups came from Queens County, N.Y., Asia, Europe and Central America.
Among all ages, the most net population growth came from New York, including Westchester, Queens, Kings and New York counties. Most people who left Fairfield County went to New Haven County, Alachua County, Fla., Litchfield County, Tolland County and Hartford County.
Since joining the young professionals network through the Business Council of Fairfield County, William Conron said a lot of what he hears about is how the county needs to attract more young adults. As a result, Conron said he was surprised to hear there was an actually a net gain, according to the most recent data.
“Everything we”™re trying to do is promote growth and the best way to do that is to retain youth and the college students,” he said, adding that he was pleased to hear their efforts may be paying off.
Conron, who grew up in Stamford, said he also left for college in Boston, but had decided to move back to Stamford later for his family. He now works in Norwalk as a director of Citrin Cooperman”™s tax department.
“I love it here,” Conron said. “It”™s expensive, but it”™s a great place to raise a family.”
“I take a lot of pride in where I live.”
