Population and Social Characteristics
Cities Americans Are Abandoning in Droves
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Published: May 13, 2024 9:50 am
Several factors determine the attractiveness of a city, and when these factors turn negative, cities often lose residents. Some subjective factors include weather, community, and vibrancy. Other factors are more objective. Economic opportunity in the form of jobs or a robust economic climate is one such factor. Another is affordability, often measured by the cost of living and the cost of housing.
The U.S. population grew by 0.49% from July 2022 to July 2023, with natural change (births minus deaths) contributing 0.15% to growth and immigration contributing 0.34%. In cities across the nation, the population change during that time ranged from a decline of 1.2% to a growth of 4.7%. If we look specifically at how net migration (people coming in less people leaving) contributed to population change in U.S. cities, some gained over 6% from migration, while other lost nearly 1.4% of residents in the past year.
To determine the cities Americans are abandoning, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on the percentage change in population due to net migration alone from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, and we included the 36 cities where net migration contributed at least 0.4% to population decline (even if the overall population grew). Data on median home value came from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community and figures are one-year estimates. Unemployment rates for March 2024 came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are not seasonally adjusted.
The list includes several large metros, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but also considerably smaller ones, such as Eagle Pass, Texas, and Minot, North Dakota. (Also see: States That Will Grow the Most by 2040 .)
The West region has by far the most cities on the list, at 16, including 12 in California alone. In 15 of the cities on the list, including 10 in California, the median home value is higher than the national median of $320,900 in 2022.
The next regions with the most cities on the list are the Midwest, with nine, and the South, with eight. In many of these cities, the March 2024 unemployment rate is higher than the national rate of 3.8%. In all, this is true in 28 of the 36 cities on the list, including four cities in which the unemployment rate is in the double digits. In some cities, both the unemployment rate and the home value are higher than the national averages.
Though all cities on the list lost population due to net migration also in the longer term, since 2020, the trend is not necessarily worsening in all cities. For example, while San Francisco lost 4.5% of its population since April 2020, the trend seems to have slowed over the past year, as it lost 0.5% of its population. On the other hand, in Lawton, Oklahoma, the trend seems to be worsening.
Why Are We Covering This
Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images Population growth comprises both natural change — births minus deaths — and net migration (people moving in minus people moving out). While some cities manage to grow mostly through natural change, the ability to attract new residents is often a sign of a positive economic environment among other things. When more residents choose to leave, something may be amiss that local governments need to address. For people considering a move, the cities on the list may not be the first choice.
Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.40% (-36,706)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +34,604; domestic: -71,310
Total population change, 2022-2023: -16,602 or -0.18% (#66 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.5% (#19 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.9%
Median home value, 2022: $301,300
Total population, 2023: 9,262,825
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.40% (-5,398)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +2,590; domestic: -7,988
Total population change, 2022-2023: -2,993 or -0.22% (#58 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.1% (#57 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 3.7%
Median home value, 2022: $244,100
Total population, 2023: 1,335,674
leightrail / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.42% (-1,000)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +2,178; domestic: -3,178
Total population change, 2022-2023: -492 or -0.21% (#61 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -0.9% (#74 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.3%
Median home value, 2022: $193,700
Total population, 2023: 235,608
Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.43% (-1,568)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +2,074; domestic: -3,642
Total population change, 2022-2023: -968 or -0.26% (#50 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (#24 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 3.1%
Median home value, 2022: $364,600
Total population, 2023: 365,536
Bill_Dally / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.44% (-8,529)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +20,422; domestic: -28,951
Total population change, 2022-2023: -211 or -0.01% (#104 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.9% (#7 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.2%
Median home value, 2022: $1,422,600
Total population, 2023: 1,945,767
DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.47% (-1,259)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +795; domestic: -2,054
Total population change, 2022-2023: +1,529 or +0.57% (#153 fastest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (#25 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.3%
Median home value, 2022: $171,200
Total population, 2023: 269,148
ghornephoto / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.48% (-821)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +605; domestic: -1,426
Total population change, 2022-2023: -477 or -0.28% (#48 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -0.9% (#73 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.2%
Median home value, 2022: $190,900
Total population, 2023: 170,441
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.49% (-1,267)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +316; domestic: -1,583
Total population change, 2022-2023: -376 or -0.15% (#73 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.2% (#46 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 8.1%
Median home value, 2022: $300,000
Total population, 2023: 256,643
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.50% (-1,908)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +441; domestic: -2,349
Total population change, 2022-2023: -1,648 or -0.43% (#30 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.4% (#21 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.7%
Median home value, 2022: $184,000
Total population, 2023: 383,295
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.51% (-917)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +493; domestic: -1,410
Total population change, 2022-2023: +117 or +0.07% (#118 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.9% (#31 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 16.1%
Median home value, 2022: $293,200
Total population, 2023: 179,057
Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.52% (-23,654)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +30,506; domestic: -54,160
Total population change, 2022-2023: -11,174 or -0.24% (#56 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -4.5% (#3 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.2% (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward)
Median home value, 2022: $1,135,500 (San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley)
Total population, 2023: 4,566,961
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.52% (-6,599)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +6,007; domestic: -12,606
Total population change, 2022-2023: +1,340 or +0.11% (#127 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.2% (#47 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 2.9% (Salt Lake City)
Median home value, 2022: $528,100 (Salt Lake City)
Total population, 2023: 1,267,864
JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.54% (-545)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +170; domestic: -715
Total population change, 2022-2023: -742 or -0.73% (#7 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.6% (#18 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 6.2%
Median home value, 2022: $108,900
Total population, 2023: 100,591
halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.56% (-322)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +120; domestic: -442
Total population change, 2022-2023: +134 or +0.23% (#158 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.1% (#26 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: N/A
Median home value, 2022: N/A
Total population, 2023: 57,762
DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.58% (-864)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +91; domestic: -955
Total population change, 2022-2023: -897 or -0.60% (#14 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.2% (#23 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.3%
Median home value, 2022: $174,300
Total population, 2023: 148,171
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.61% (-19,978)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +10,767; domestic: -30,745
Total population change, 2022-2023: -7,203 or -0.22% (#59 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (#28 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.4% (San Diego-Carlsbad)
Median home value, 2022: $846,600
Total population, 2023: 3,269,973
benedek / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.64% (-5,364)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +1,390; domestic: -6,754
Total population change, 2022-2023: -3,281 or -0.39% (#34 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.4% (#20 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.6%
Median home value, 2022: $796,300
Total population, 2023: 829,590
GCShutter / E+ via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.68% (-133,571)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +104,923; domestic: -238,494
Total population change, 2022-2023: -65,549 or -0.34% (#41 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.7% (#10 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.3% (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA)
Median home value, 2022: $578,800 (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA)
Total population, 2023: 19,498,249
DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.70% (-888)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +142; domestic: -1,030
Total population change, 2022-2023: -673 or -0.53% (#23 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -0.2% (#108 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 3.6%
Median home value, 2022: $143,000
Total population, 2023: 127,001
benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.70% (-731)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +532; domestic: -1,263
Total population change, 2022-2023: -741 or -0.71% (#8 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -0.5% (#92 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 3.2%
Median home value, 2022: $283,000
Total population, 2023: 103,558
Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.70% (-1,450)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +475; domestic: -1,925
Total population change, 2022-2023: -464 or -0.22% (#57 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.7% (#37 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.4%
Median home value, 2022: $200,400
Total population, 2023: 206,409
sorincolac / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.74% (-7,395)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +3,399; domestic: -10,794
Total population change, 2022-2023: -5,420 or -0.54% (#22 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.4% (#14 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 2.5%
Median home value, 2022: $874,500
Total population, 2023: 989,408
shalunts / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.79% (-101,387)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +53,247; domestic: -154,634
Total population change, 2022-2023: -71,037 or -0.55% (#21 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (#13 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.9%
Median home value, 2022: $847,400
Total population, 2023: 12,799,100
StacieStauffSmith Photos / Shutterstock.com
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.79% (-1,060)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +279; domestic: -1,339
Total population change, 2022-2023: -1,154 or -0.86% (#4 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.2% (#15 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.2%
Median home value, 2022: $866,300
Total population, 2023: 133,216
LPETTET / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.82% (-7,510)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +1,659; domestic: -9,169
Total population change, 2022-2023: -2,931 or -0.32% (#42 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.0% (#58 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 10.1% (Bakersfield)
Median home value, 2022: $330,000 (Bakersfield)
Total population, 2023: 913,820
springfieldhomer / Flickr
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.83% (-1,277)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +188; domestic: -1,465
Total population change, 2022-2023: -305 or -0.20% (#62 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.0% (#30 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 10.0%
Median home value, 2022: $299,400
Total population, 2023: 152,682
BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.93% (-1,116)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +151; domestic: -1,267
Total population change, 2022-2023: -1,217 or -1.02% (#3 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -1.9% (#32 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 3.4%
Median home value, 2022: $165,600
Total population, 2023: 118,475
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -0.94% (-1,892)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +152; domestic: -2,044
Total population change, 2022-2023: -1,711 or -0.85% (#5 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -4.4% (#4 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.0% (Houma-Thibodaux)
Median home value, 2022: $182,600 (Houma-Thibodaux)
Total population, 2023: 198,672
stellalevi / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.09% (-4,822)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +1,424; domestic: -6,246
Total population change, 2022-2023: -2,658 or -0.60% (#15 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -2.9% (#16 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 5.1%
Median home value, 2022: $744,700
Total population, 2023: 441,257
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.12% (-4,850)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +1,340; domestic: -6,190
Total population change, 2022-2023: -2,161 or -0.50% (#25 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.8% (#8 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 10.5%
Median home value, 2022: $732,500
Total population, 2023: 430,723
Robert Campbell / Wikimedia Commons
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.16% (-3,059)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +396; domestic: -3,455
Total population change, 2022-2023: -2,693 or -1.02% (#2 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (#11 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 7.4%
Median home value, 2022: $1,013,900
Total population, 2023: 261,547
sarkophoto / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.24% (-1,177)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +214; domestic: -1,391
Total population change, 2022-2023: -362 or -0.38% (#37 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.6% (#12 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.1% (Fairbanks)
Median home value, 2022: $307,600 (Fairbanks)
Total population, 2023: 94,840
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.24% (-947)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +175; domestic: -1,122
Total population change, 2022-2023: -491 or -0.64% (#12 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -4.0% (#5 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: N/A
Median home value, 2022: $235,600
Total population, 2023: 75,742
DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.28% (-1,709)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +425; domestic: -2,134
Total population change, 2022-2023: -553 or -0.41% (#31 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.7% (#9 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 2.7%
Median home value, 2022: $214,000
Total population, 2023: 132,831
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.30% (-1,499)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +273; domestic: -1,772
Total population change, 2022-2023: -674 or -0.58% (#17 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -3.9% (#6 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 5.6%
Median home value, 2022: $177,700
Total population, 2023: 114,787
f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Population change due to migration, 2022-2023: -1.35% (-13,173)
Migration breakdown, 2022-2023: international: +3,851; domestic: -17,024
Total population change, 2022-2023: -11,220 or -1.15% (#1 slowest growth)
Population change due to migration, 2020-2023: -4.8% (#2 slowest growth)
Unemployment rate, March 2024: 4.5%
Median home value, 2022: $265,800
Total population, 2023: 962,165
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Population and Social Characteristics , affordability , cities people are leaving , domestic migration , fairbanks , housing , housing affordability , international immigration , manhattan kansas , migration , migration statistics , minot , New Orleans , population change due to migration , unemployment , watertown
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