A new report by Pattern for Progress says the Hudson Valley is in the middle of a demographic shift. 

"Economics show there has been a tremendous transition from higher-paying jobs to lower-paying jobs since the great recession, and that means it's harder to live here," said Pattern for Progress President and CEO Jonathan Drapkin.

Researchers spent more than a year measuring the demographics of the HV and unveiled their findings in a new report called Out of Alignment.

"On the demographic side there are ... major changes occurring; one, we're having fewer and fewer kids," Drapkin said. "Also, we're aging and we're getting much older."

But Pattern found while population growth in the Hudson Valley is stagnant at just 1.3 percent a year, Latino and black communities in the Hudson Valley have actually grown in recent years. 

"There's diversity changes happening in the Hudson Valley, so you'll find the Latino, Hispanic population is growing in the Hudson Valley predominantly in urban areas," Drapkin said. 

Diana Lopez of immigrant rights group Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson says she knows what draws immigrants to the Hudson Valley.

"We have seen growth in our communities and it has to do with the cities [that] are very welcoming and inclusive," Lopez said. "It tends to be they have other family or friends that are living there so they're like 'well, you can come and live with us or live in the city we live in.' "

Immigrants also feel safe knowing that cities like Kingston, Newburgh, and Middletown have adopted policies to help them feel more welcome.

"They don't have to worry about 'oh, are they going to welcome me there, or are they gonna look bad at me, or am I gonna go through discrimination, racism,' " Lopez said.

But Lopez says some improvements must be made to help new immigrants adjust to their new communities.

"Having more language resources would be a big improvement for schools. I can speak to Kingston, because that's where I live and work the most," Lopez said. "I know they're starting a program doing dual language."

Lopez also says immigrant resource groups like hers help immigrants feel supported.

"They kind of know where to go if something were to happen," Lopez said.

Pattern for Progress projects that Hispanic and immigrant communities in the Hudson Valley will only continue to grow.

"It's the next wave of immigrants and it's the story of America," Drapkin said.