(CNSNews.com) – Utah, Texas, and North Dakota, where taxes are low, are the most economically vibrant states in the country, according to a new report. The high-tax states of New York and Michigan rank at the bottom.

Additionally, the report found, millions of people left highly-taxed states for low-tax states between 2003 and 2013.

The 8th edition of Rich States Poor States, an annual report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) on Wednesday, found that 1.5 million people left New York between 2003 and 2013, the largest exodus of any state. California came in second by that indicator, with 1.4 million leaving the state. Illinois placed third, with 647,000 leaving; while Michigan placed fourth, with 628,000 moving out.

On the plus side, Texas placed first for population growth, with 1.2 million people moving in. Florida placed second, with 960,000 moving to the state, followed by North Carolina (655,000) and  Arizona (584,000).

In addition to population growth and loss, the report ranks states on two different scales. One is economic outlook, which is based on 15 policy variables, nine of which are related to taxes.

Source: Rudy Takala, www.cnsnews.com