[memph]

Yeah, the Northeast at least has high wages and real estate prices which suggests that the lack of population growth has a lot to do with difficulties in building new reasonably priced housing.

Despite the supposed exodus of retirees to the South, it isn't causing the median age in those states to be any higher than in the Great Lakes, and at least in the Southeast, you can't even explain that with birth rates because the birth rates in the Southeast and Great Lakes are pretty similar. So clearly young people are making the move as well, presumably for more economically driven reasons.

I'm not saying climate isn't a factor, but it can still be overcome if the conditions are right. Like migrations from Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada to the Northern Prairies (Edmonton, Saskatoon, Fort McMurray) when that region is in a boom cycle represent facing significantly colder winters. The difference between Atlantic Canada/Southern Ontario winters and Northern Prairies winters is pretty similar to the difference between the Great Lakes and Southeast.

The ND/SD/NE/MT/WY are able to experience boom cycles too, despite having winters that are harsher than the Great Lakes imo.