Since 2011, the U.S. population has grown by approximately .8 percent annually. Both immigrants and newborns contribute to this growth. Recent decades have seen some cities become much more populous than others. The analysts at MooseRoots wanted to see which cities have fallen out of favor most, so they looked at the percent change in population of American cities larger than 100,000 people as of 2013. Cities with the biggest percent decreases in population size from 2000-2013 are deemed the least popular cities.
On the other end of the spectrum are cities like Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina, which have seen unprecedented growth during the past decade. And, while growth doesn’t necessarily mean everyone who lives there loves these cities, it is a good indicator of popularity.
The pink regions of the map show that many of these shrinking cities are in the Midwest region. Though the migration into and out of cities is a complex issue, two big factors seem to influence the shift out of the Midwest. Young people in search of jobs move to large, growing cities and many others — both young and old — move to cities with better weather and increased conveniences.
Additionally, the economies of certain cities affect how many people move to or away from them. Located in the Midwest along with many other less-than-popular cities, Detroit has experienced a depressed economy since the 1970s. From 2000-2013, its population shrank 25.7 percent.
Of the 25 least popular cities in America, only one in California makes the list. However, there is a sprinkling of East Coast cities mixed in with the Midwestern majority.
Paterson, New Jersey
Population in 2013: 145,920
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -2.2%
Erie, Pennsylvania
Population in 2013: 101,324
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -2.3%
Santa Ana, California
Population in 2013: 328,719
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -2.7%
Warren, Michigan
Population in 2013: 134,376
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -2.8%
Lansing, Michigan
Population in 2013: 114,274
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -4.1%
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Population in 2013: 189,735
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -4.1%
Rochester, New York
Population in 2013: 210,624
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -4.2%
Baltimore, Maryland
Population in 2013: 621,445
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -4.6%
Metairie, Louisiana
Population in 2013: 139,279
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -4.7%
Jackson, Mississippi
Population in 2013: 173,997
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -5.6%
South Bend, Indiana
Population in 2013: 100,863
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -6.4%
Hampton, Virginia
Population in 2013: 136,957
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -6.5%
Chicago, Illinois
Population in 2013: 2,706,101
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -6.6%
Akron, Ohio
Population in 2013: 199,038
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -8.3%
St. Louis, Missouri
Population in 2013: 318,955
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -8.4%
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Population in 2013: 306,062
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -8.5%
Toledo, Ohio
Population in 2013: 285,459
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -9%
Cincinnati, Ohio
Population in 2013: 297,150
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -10.3%
Buffalo, New York
Population in 2013: 260,568
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -11%
Birmingham, Alabama
Population in 2013: 212,295
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -12.6%
Dayton, Ohio
Population in 2013: 143,446
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -13.7%
Cleveland, Ohio
Population in 2013: 394,335
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -17.6%
Flint, Michigan
Population in 2013: 101,649
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -18.6%
Detroit, Michigan
Population in 2013: 706,663
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -25.7%
New Orleans, Louisiana
Population in 2013: 357,013
Percent Change in Population from 2000-2013: -26.3%
