Michael Hill reports for the Associated Press more people are leaving upstate New York than are moving in. The state is home to about 19.65 million people, but the state's slow growth is largely fueled by New York City. The population of the 53 counties of upstate New York was essentially flat, decreasing by 0.1 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to the latest county-level Census estimates available. Though there have been pockets of growth in the Hudson Valley and some other areas, many upstate communities grapple with a slow but steady loss of people. The loss of population is attributed to various factors including high taxes, lack of viable employment and the weather. At some point early this year, Florida is expected to surpass New York as the third most populous state, The Associated Press reports. Read the full AP story in the Times Union.