Between 2012 and 2022, several cities’ downtowns have seen residents pack up and head out while others are thriving. Just what’s going on? Let’s look at 18 American cities where the downtown population is declining the most and why.
Albany, Georgia Takes a Hit
This data comes from the American Community Survey. In Albany, Georgia, downtown isn’t quite the hotspot it used to be, and over the past ten years, nearly 40% of its downtown residents decided to leave. But while this is happening, their incomes increased by 23.7%, which is quite confusing.
Pine Bluff Feels the Squeeze
Things aren’t looking too sunny either in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The downtown population has dropped by over 30% since 2012, even though those who stayed earn 19.1% more than they used to. Whether it’s the amenities or the city’s vibe, it’s clear that Pine Bluff has some thinking to do.
Columbus, Georgia’s Surprising Split
The downtown area of Columbus, Georgia, had a population drop of 25.4%, but the rest of the city actually grew a bit. At the same time, downtown income shot up by a whopping 41.4%, so it seems there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Why aren’t more people hanging around to enjoy all that money?
Birmingham’s Mixed Bag
Birmingham, Alabama, is a tale of two cities. Downtown, they’ve lost about 22.5% of their crowd, even though they’re making 28.7% more money, which suggests that the extra cash isn’t enough to keep everyone around. Whether it’s the quality of life or another issue, something is clearly up, and the city’s heart is struggling to keep itself alive.
Anniston’s Downtown Declines
Things are clearly changing in Anniston, Alabama. While the downtown population has fallen by 22.2%, people in other parts of the town are actually moving in. People’s income is rising downtown, but it seems like money’s not talking here, as they’re looking for newer homes and better schools outside the downtown area.
Alexandria’s Losing Streak
In Alexandria, Louisiana, the downtown population has dropped by 21.3%, even with a 29.3% increase in income. It seems like even a nice bump in the paycheck isn’t enough to keep the locals happy, although there’s got to be more to the story here. The city’s lower cost of living and lifestyle just aren’t enough to match growing incomes.
Shreveport’s Income Spike
In Shreveport, Louisiana, income downtown has nearly doubled by an amazing 92.2%, although 21% of the population has still checked out. It’s one of those places where, even when the money flows, people simply aren’t biting. Many people are moving out because the local amenities aren’t quite there yet.
Sumter’s Steady Exit
Many people are moving away from downtown Sumter, South Carolina, with a 21% population decrease. The lack of financial growth might be a factor, but the main reasons might be the lifestyle and local job opportunities. Some residents choose to live in newer developments and suburban areas that provide them with more modern living conditions.
Saginaw’s Ongoing Challenge
Downtown Saginaw has been losing its appeal for some locals, with a population decline of over 20%, even with a 26.4% rise in income. The challenge here isn’t just the cold Michigan winters and the need for more compelling reasons to stay. Perhaps the city’s leadership should focus on improving downtown’s appeal with better amenities and a better community life.
Texarkana’s Teetering Population
Texarkana is struggling with a declining downtown population, losing nearly 20% of its residents. The local area’s economic improvements just haven’t been enough to keep the residents anchored. Maybe it’s time to fix the downtown area with better safety measures and more upgraded public services to make living there more attractive.
Savannah’s Surprising Stats
Savannah is known for being a good place to live, but downtown tells a different story, with a significant 18.4% decline in its population. Meanwhile, incomes there have risen by 76.9%, suggesting that financial gains are not translating into residential stability. Improving the local area’s public transport could encourage people to stay.
Topeka’s Downtown Dip
In Topeka, the downtown population has reduced by 18.4% while local incomes have risen by 33.2%. Clearly, there’s a gap between what the downtown offers versus what residents actually need. If city officials want to make downtown Topeka a more exciting place to live, they must add more cultural and lifestyle attractions.
Victoria, Texas’s Decline
The downtown area in Victoria, Texas, is losing both people and prosperity. The population has fallen by 17.8%, while income has decreased by 6.3%. As both figures have fallen, city officials must work hard to improve the economy and residential life. To reverse this trend, investing in better housing and local amenities may be worthwhile.
Bangor, Maine’s Mixed Message
Like many other cities on this list, Bangor, Maine’s downtown population has fallen by 17.2%, even though income increased by 25.7%. Higher earnings aren’t enough to encourage people to stay here, so developing more recreational options would be worthwhile. Doing so could make the downtown more appealing, especially during the long winter months.
Yuma’s Desert Drift
Even in the desert, cities like Yuma struggle to retain their population, as the figure has fallen by about 17%. Meanwhile, income rose by 23.6%, which shows there are deeper-rooted issues here other than finances. City officials are trying to fix the situation by improving the local infrastructure, but it remains to be seen if this will actually work.
Flint, Michigan’s Fluid Population
The downtown population in Flint has fallen by approximately 16.9%, which isn’t much of a surprise given the city’s ongoing water problems. Although income has increased by 19.1%, the water issues are just too great for people to ignore. Perhaps once these problems are fixed, the city can keep its residents.
Lima, Ohio’s Interesting Imbalance
Housing quality isn’t meeting residents’ needs in downtown Lima, and that’s one major reason the population has fallen by 16%. Of course, a 17.7% income increase is good, but that’s nothing compared to the struggle to find a home. The local government will have to work hard to solve this growing problem.
Evansville, Indiana’s Cautious Hope
Evansville’s decline in downtown population is relatively modest compared to other cities on this list, at only 15.6%, and there’s also been a small rise in income. As such, city officials hope they can retain residents in the future. They’re working on making the downtown more interesting to attract and keep people there.
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