Special Report

Cities Americans Are Abandoning

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Moving to a new city can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life. Similarly, migration can have a significant impact on an area’s economy. With hundreds of thousands of people relocating within the United States every year, states and cities in particular compete with one another to attract new residents.

Based on net migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the cities with the highest incoming and outgoing net migration over the last five years.

Americans have migrated from northern to southern cities in recent years. Nine out of the 10 cities with the highest incoming migration are located in the south.

Click here to see the cities Americans are abandoning.
Click here to see the cities Americans are moving to.

Relative to their population, there was a significant outgoing migration from cities in the north such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit. The New York City metropolitan area alone lost a net of more than 700,000 people — the largest net migration loss of any U.S. metro. At the same time, southern cities such as Orlando, Atlanta, and Houston all gained at least a net 100,000 new residents.

The availability of jobs is perhaps the most important factor for Americans seeking to relocate. The national unemployment rate fell from 9.9% in April 2010 to 5.3% in July 2015, a 4.6 percentage point improvement. During the same time period, unemployment in seven of the 10 cities with the highest incoming domestic migration improved even more. By contrast, the unemployment rates in nine of the 10 cities with the highest share of their population leaving declined at a slower pace than the national decline over that period.

To identify the cities with the highest rates of domestic migration, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed domestic migration data from April 2010 to July 2015 from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates, the size of the labor force, and employment levels are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These are the cities attracting the most people, and the cities Americans are abandoning.

Cities Americans are Abandoning

Wichita Falls, Texas
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25. Wichita Falls, TX
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-3.8%
> July 2015 population: 150,780
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.2%

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Danville, Illinois
Wikimedia Commons

24. Danville, IL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-3.8%
> July 2015 population: 79,282
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.0%

Norwich, Connecticut
Wikimedia Commons

23. Norwich-New London, CT
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-3.9%
> July 2015 population: 271,863
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.9%

Kankakee, Illinois
Wikimedia Commons

22. Kankakee, IL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.1%
> July 2015 population: 110,879
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.7%

Bridgeton, New Jersey
Wikimedia Commons

21. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.2%
> July 2015 population: 155,854
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 8.6%

Decatur, Illinois
Wikimedia Commons

20. Decatur, IL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.2%
> July 2015 population: 107,303
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.1%

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El Centro, California
Wikimedia Commons

19. El Centro, CA
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.3%
> July 2015 population: 180,191
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 24.1%

Fort Knox, Tennessee
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18. Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.3%
> July 2015 population: 148,604
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.2%

Saginaw County, Michigan
Wikimedia Commons

17. Saginaw, MI
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.5%
> July 2015 population: 193,307
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.1%

Trenton, New Jersey
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16. Trenton, NJ
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.6%
> July 2015 population: 371,398
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.7%

Atlantic City, NJ Life Boat
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15. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.6%
> July 2015 population: 274,219
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 9.2%

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Flint, Michigan 2
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14. Flint, MI
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.7%
> July 2015 population: 410,849
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.5%

Rockford, Illinois
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13. Rockford, IL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.7%
> July 2015 population: 340,663
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.2%

New Bern, North Carolina
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12. New Bern, NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-4.7%
> July 2015 population: 126,245
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.1%

Albany, Georgia
Wikimedia Commons

11. Albany, GA
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-5.5%
> July 2015 population: 153,526
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.9%

Fayetteville, North Carolina Market house
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10. Fayetteville, NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-5.9%
> July 2015 population: 376,509
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.4%

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Lawton, Oklahoma
https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesduggar/

9. Lawton, OK
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-6.3%
> July 2015 population: 130,644
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.3%

Fairbanks, Alaska 2
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8. Fairbanks, AK
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-6.8%
> July 2015 population: 99,631
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.3%

Douglas, Arizona
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7. Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-7.0%
> July 2015 population: 126,427
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.3%

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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6. Pine Bluff, AR
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-7.2%
> July 2015 population: 93,696
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.9%

Watertown, New York
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/

5. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-7.9%
> July 2015 population: 117,635
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.8%

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Hanford, California
Wikimedia Commons

4. Hanford-Corcoran, CA
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-8.3%
> July 2015 population: 150,965
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 10.4%

Hinesville, Georgia
Wikimedia Commons

3. Hinesville, GA
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-9.4%
> July 2015 population: 80,198
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.0%

Jacksonville, North Carolina

2. Jacksonville, NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-10.0%
> July 2015 population: 186,311
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.1%

Farmington, New Mexico
Wikimedia Commons

1. Farmington, NM
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
-12.7%
> July 2015 population: 118,737
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.1%

Click here to see the cities Americans are moving to.

Cities Americans are Moving To

Raleigh, North Carolina
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25. Raleigh, NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.4%
> July 2015 population: 1,273,568
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.8%

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Port St. Lucie, Florida
Wikimedia Commons

24. Port St. Lucie, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.4%
> July 2015 population: 454,846
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.8%

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Wikimedia Commons

23. Coeur d’Alene, ID
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.4%
> July 2015 population: 150,346
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.0%

Auburn Campus, Alabama
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22. Auburn-Opelika, AL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.5%
> July 2015 population: 156,993
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.2%

Destin, Florida
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21. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.6%
> July 2015 population: 262,172
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.5%

Prescott, Arizona
Wikimedia Commons

20. Prescott, AZ
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.8%
> July 2015 population: 222,255
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.5%

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Wilmington, North Carolina
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19. Wilmington, NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.8%
> July 2015 population: 277,969
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.5%

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Beaufort County
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18. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
6.9%
> July 2015 population: 207,413
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.2%

Greeley, Colorado
https://www.flickr.com/photos/greeleygov/

17. Greeley, CO
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
7.1%
> July 2015 population: 285,174
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 3.9%

Naples, Florida
Wikimedia Commons

16. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
7.4%
> July 2015 population: 357,305
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.1%

Charleston, South Carolina
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15. Charleston-North Charleston, SC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
7.5%
> July 2015 population: 744,526
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.9%

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Fort Collins, Colorado 2
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14. Fort Collins, CO
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
7.6%
> July 2015 population: 333,577
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 3.3%

St. George, Utah
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13. St. George, UT
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
8.1%
> July 2015 population: 155,602
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.0%

Sebastian-Vero Beach, Florida
Thinkstock

12. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
8.2%
> July 2015 population: 147,919
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.5%

Bismarck, North Dakota
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11. Bismarck, ND
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
8.8%
> July 2015 population: 129,517
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 2.5%

Austin, Texas Capital Building
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/

10. Austin-Round Rock, TX
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
9.3%
> July 2015 population: 2,000,860
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 3.3%

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Sarasota, Florida
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9. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
9.6%
> July 2015 population: 768,918
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.9%

Bend-Redmond, Oregon
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8. Bend-Redmond, OR
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
9.6%
> July 2015 population: 175,268
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 6.0%

Odessa, Texas
Wikimedia Commons

7. Odessa, TX
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
9.6%
> July 2015 population: 159,436
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.6%

Daphne, Fairhope, Alabama
https://www.flickr.com/photos/94097824@N05/

6. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
10.1%
> July 2015 population: 203,709
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.5%

Cape Coral, Florida
Thinkstock

5. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
10.8%
> July 2015 population: 701,982
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 4.9%

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Midland, Texas 2
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4. Midland, TX
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
11.1%
> July 2015 population: 166,718
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 3.5%

Harbor walk on Charlotte Horbor in Punta Gorda, FL

3. Punta Gorda, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
11.6%
> July 2015 population: 173,115
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 5.8%

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Thinkstock

2. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
13.9%
> July 2015 population: 431,964
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.2%

The Villages, Florida
Thinkstock

1. The Villages, FL
> 5-yr. population growth from net migration:
32.0%
> July 2015 population: 118,891
> July 2015 unemployment rate: 7.5%

Click here to see the cities Americans are abandoning.

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