This alarming pattern of flight is happening at multiple levels. In 2016 Chicago was the only city among the nation's 20 largest to lose population. It was the third consecutive year of decline. The same year, the population of the greater Chicago area fell by the biggest number of any metro area in the country. Based on the state's net migration loss figures, assume that most of those people didn't leave Chicago or Elgin for Danville or Decatur. They left for another state. Census figures show that last year the top moving destinations for Illinois residents were Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, Texas and California. Tax records show similar results.