The U.S. Cities People Are Leaving In Droves

While the U.S. population grew by 6.7% from 2013 to 2023, population growth was far from even across the country. Of the roughly 29,000 cities with available data, 14,000 experienced population declines over the period, as more and more of the population concentrated in major metro areas in the Sun Belt. Several major cities lost […] The post The U.S. Cities People Are Leaving In Droves appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Jun 21, 2025 - 11:42

The U.S. Cities People Are Leaving In Droves

Key Points

Over the past 10 years, the U.S. population grew by 6.7%.
Growth was highly uneven, with 14,000 of 29,000 cities registering declines in population.
Of the 40 cities with the largest population declines, 16 are in the South and 13 are in the Midwest.
Planning a move in your financial future? Click here to get started.

While the U.S. population grew by 6.7% from 2013 to 2023, population growth was far from even across the country. Of the roughly 29,000 cities with available data, 14,000 experienced population declines over the period, as more and more of the population concentrated in major metro areas in the Sun Belt.

Several major cities lost tens of thousands of residents. While some shrinking cities continued decades-long trends of population decline, in other cities — like Paradise, Nevada, Memphis, Tennessee, and Aurora, Illinois — contraction is a much more recent phenomenon. Of the 40 cities that lost the most residents from 2013 to 2023, 16 are in the South, 13 are in the Midwest, nine are in the West, and two are in the Northeast. Some are losing residents to long-declining manufacturing sectors, while others may be pushing residents away with high cost of living or growing climate risk. A closer look at the data reveals the cities people are leaving in droves.

To determine the cities people are leaving in droves, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on historical population from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities were ranked based on raw population chance from 2013 to 2013. Supplemental data on average home value, median home value, and industry concentration are also from the U.S. Census Bureau.

40. Camden, NJ

Population decline, 2013-2023: -5,885 residents (-7.6% decline)
Current population, 2023: 71,471 residents
Past population, 2013: 77,356 residents
Average home value: $47,446
Median household income: $40,450
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, retail trade, wholesale trade, accommodation and food services

39. Anchorage, AK

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,168 residents (-2.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 289,069 residents
Past population, 2013: 295,237 residents
Average home value: $263,671
Median household income: $98,152
Most concentrated economic sectors: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, public administration, transportation and warehousing, management of companies and enterprises, utilities

38. Holualoa, HI

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,217 residents (-68.8% decline)
Current population, 2023: 2,825 residents
Past population, 2013: 9,042 residents
Average home value: $869,161
Median household income: $109,444
Most concentrated economic sectors: Real estate and rental and leasing, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, information, educational services, other services, except public administration

37. Montgomery, AL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,320 residents (-3.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 198,440 residents
Past population, 2013: 204,760 residents
Average home value: $120,175
Median household income: $55,687
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, administrative and support and waste management services, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, retail trade

36. Kendale Lakes, FL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,432 residents (-11.0% decline)
Current population, 2023: 52,141 residents
Past population, 2013: 58,573 residents
Average home value: $307,954
Median household income: $69,150
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, real estate and rental and leasing, administrative and support and waste management services, finance and insurance

35. Lawton, OK

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,485 residents (-6.7% decline)
Current population, 2023: 90,662 residents
Past population, 2013: 97,147 residents
Average home value: $98,525
Median household income: $53,588
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade

34. Meridian, MS

Meridian, MS | Meridian, Mississippi

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,603 residents (-16.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 34,466 residents
Past population, 2013: 41,069 residents
Average home value: $81,355
Median household income: $34,657
Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, administrative and support and waste management services, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

33. Dayton, OH

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,705 residents (-4.7% decline)
Current population, 2023: 136,741 residents
Past population, 2013: 143,446 residents
Average home value: $56,526
Median household income: $43,454
Most concentrated economic sectors: Manufacturing, accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation

32. Youngstown, OH

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,906 residents (-10.4% decline)
Current population, 2023: 59,605 residents
Past population, 2013: 66,511 residents
Average home value: $43,312
Median household income: $34,746
Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, manufacturing, management of companies and enterprises, transportation and warehousing

31. Long Beach, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -6,933 residents (-1.5% decline)
Current population, 2023: 458,491 residents
Past population, 2013: 465,424 residents
Average home value: $344,533
Median household income: $83,969
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, arts, entertainment, and recreation, administrative and support and waste management services, information, accommodation and food services

30. Hialeah, FL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,042 residents (-3.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 221,901 residents
Past population, 2013: 228,943 residents
Average home value: $177,067
Median household income: $53,079
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, construction, other services, except public administration, administrative and support and waste management services

29. Fort Hood, TX

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,116 residents (-21.6% decline)
Current population, 2023: 25,786 residents
Past population, 2013: 32,902 residents
Average home value: $1,055
Median household income: $59,661
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

28. Erie, PA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,168 residents (-7.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 94,156 residents
Past population, 2013: 101,324 residents
Average home value: $66,461
Median household income: $43,397
Most concentrated economic sectors: Health care and social assistance, manufacturing, accommodation and food services, other services, except public administration, finance and insurance

27. Saginaw, MI

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,286 residents (-14.2% decline)
Current population, 2023: 43,879 residents
Past population, 2013: 51,165 residents
Average home value: $40,086
Median household income: $37,298
Most concentrated economic sectors: Health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, utilities, management of companies and enterprises, manufacturing

26. El Monte, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,346 residents (-6.4% decline)
Current population, 2023: 107,066 residents
Past population, 2013: 114,412 residents
Average home value: $267,097
Median household income: $64,484
Most concentrated economic sectors: Wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, other services, except public administration, accommodation and food services, administrative and support and waste management services

25. Pine Bluff, AR

Population decline, 2013-2023: -7,495 residents (-15.6% decline)
Current population, 2023: 40,436 residents
Past population, 2013: 47,931 residents
Average home value: $60,851
Median household income: $41,250
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, manufacturing, arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, retail trade

24. Miami Beach, FL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -8,093 residents (-9.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 81,319 residents
Past population, 2013: 89,412 residents
Average home value: $471,666
Median household income: $67,014
Most concentrated economic sectors: Real estate and rental and leasing, accommodation and food services, information, administrative and support and waste management services, professional, scientific, and technical services

23. East St. Louis, IL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -8,552 residents (-31.9% decline)
Current population, 2023: 18,278 residents
Past population, 2013: 26,830 residents
Average home value: $75,007
Median household income: $30,992
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services, public administration, finance and insurance

22. Norfolk, VA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -9,053 residents (-3.7% decline)
Current population, 2023: 235,037 residents
Past population, 2013: 244,090 residents
Average home value: $156,679
Median household income: $64,017
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services, real estate and rental and leasing, retail trade

21. Albany, GA

Albany, Georgia | File:Albany Arch.JPG

Population decline, 2013-2023: -9,257 residents (-12.0% decline)
Current population, 2023: 67,939 residents
Past population, 2013: 77,196 residents
Average home value: $56,144
Median household income: $45,201
Most concentrated economic sectors: Administrative and support and waste management services, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, educational services

20. Akron, OH

Population decline, 2013-2023: -9,512 residents (-4.8% decline)
Current population, 2023: 189,526 residents
Past population, 2013: 199,038 residents
Average home value: $73,604
Median household income: $48,544
Most concentrated economic sectors: Manufacturing, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, other services, except public administration, retail trade

19. Mobile, AL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -10,019 residents (-5.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 185,097 residents
Past population, 2013: 195,116 residents
Average home value: $116,664
Median household income: $51,090
Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, retail trade, health care and social assistance, administrative and support and waste management services, transportation and warehousing

18. Isla Vista, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -10,940 residents (-44.4% decline)
Current population, 2023: 13,717 residents
Past population, 2013: 24,657 residents
Average home value: $00
Median household income: $24,428
Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, educational services, information, arts, entertainment, and recreation, retail trade

17. Gary, IN

Population decline, 2013-2023: -11,318 residents (-14.2% decline)
Current population, 2023: 68,604 residents
Past population, 2013: 79,922 residents
Average home value: $56,763
Median household income: $37,380
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services

16. Birmingham, AL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -12,973 residents (-6.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 199,322 residents
Past population, 2013: 212,295 residents
Average home value: $94,039
Median household income: $44,376
Most concentrated economic sectors: Utilities, management of companies and enterprises, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing

15. East Los Angeles, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -13,280 residents (-10.4% decline)
Current population, 2023: 114,617 residents
Past population, 2013: 127,897 residents
Average home value: $207,672
Median household income: $68,378
Most concentrated economic sectors: Wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, construction, administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services

14. Toledo, OH

Population decline, 2013-2023: -16,998 residents (-6.0% decline)
Current population, 2023: 268,461 residents
Past population, 2013: 285,459 residents
Average home value: $68,030
Median household income: $47,532
Most concentrated economic sectors: Manufacturing, accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, retail trade

13. Santa Ana, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -17,080 residents (-5.2% decline)
Current population, 2023: 311,639 residents
Past population, 2013: 328,719 residents
Average home value: $302,829
Median household income: $88,354
Most concentrated economic sectors: Administrative and support and waste management services, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, construction

12. Shreveport, LA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -17,232 residents (-8.6% decline)
Current population, 2023: 183,483 residents
Past population, 2013: 200,715 residents
Average home value: $124,738
Median household income: $48,465
Most concentrated economic sectors: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation and food services, administrative and support and waste management services

11. Aurora, IL

Population decline, 2013-2023: -18,859 residents (-9.5% decline)
Current population, 2023: 179,867 residents
Past population, 2013: 198,726 residents
Average home value: $193,726
Median household income: $90,109
Most concentrated economic sectors: Management of companies and enterprises, manufacturing, administrative and support and waste management services, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing

10. Paradise, CA

Population decline, 2013-2023: -19,426 residents (-74.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 6,793 residents
Past population, 2013: 26,219 residents
Average home value: $383,592
Median household income: $67,042
Most concentrated economic sectors: Utilities, real estate and rental and leasing, administrative and support and waste management services, information, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

9. Flint, MI

Population decline, 2013-2023: -20,814 residents (-20.5% decline)
Current population, 2023: 80,835 residents
Past population, 2013: 101,649 residents
Average home value: $38,800
Median household income: $36,194
Most concentrated economic sectors: Manufacturing, accommodation and food services, retail trade, management of companies and enterprises, administrative and support and waste management services

8. Memphis, TN

Population decline, 2013-2023: -21,869 residents (-3.4% decline)
Current population, 2023: 629,063 residents
Past population, 2013: 650,932 residents
Average home value: $107,118
Median household income: $51,211
Most concentrated economic sectors: Transportation and warehousing, administrative and support and waste management services, management of companies and enterprises, accommodation and food services, wholesale trade

7. Jackson, MS

Population decline, 2013-2023: -24,170 residents (-13.9% decline)
Current population, 2023: 149,827 residents
Past population, 2013: 173,997 residents
Average home value: $83,646
Median household income: $43,238
Most concentrated economic sectors: Accommodation and food services, public administration, administrative and support and waste management services, other services, except public administration, health care and social assistance

6. St. Louis, MO

Population decline, 2013-2023: -25,846 residents (-8.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 293,109 residents
Past population, 2013: 318,955 residents
Average home value: $108,378
Median household income: $55,279
Most concentrated economic sectors: Management of companies and enterprises, arts, entertainment, and recreation, health care and social assistance, educational services, finance and insurance

5. Milwaukee, WI

Population decline, 2013-2023: -26,703 residents (-4.5% decline)
Current population, 2023: 569,756 residents
Past population, 2013: 596,459 residents
Average home value: $84,476
Median household income: $51,888
Most concentrated economic sectors: Manufacturing, administrative and support and waste management services, management of companies and enterprises, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services

4. Cleveland, OH

Population decline, 2013-2023: -26,812 residents (-6.8% decline)
Current population, 2023: 367,523 residents
Past population, 2013: 394,335 residents
Average home value: $55,705
Median household income: $39,187
Most concentrated economic sectors: Administrative and support and waste management services, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, arts, entertainment, and recreation

3. Paradise, NV

Population decline, 2013-2023: -35,460 residents (-16.0% decline)
Current population, 2023: 186,178 residents
Past population, 2013: 221,638 residents
Average home value: $160,457
Median household income: $58,874
Most concentrated economic sectors: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation and food services, administrative and support and waste management services, transportation and warehousing, real estate and rental and leasing

2. Baltimore, MD

Population decline, 2013-2023: -44,252 residents (-7.1% decline)
Current population, 2023: 577,193 residents
Past population, 2013: 621,445 residents
Average home value: $129,871
Median household income: $59,623
Most concentrated economic sectors: Public administration, educational services, health care and social assistance, real estate and rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing

1. Detroit, MI

Population decline, 2013-2023: -70,019 residents (-9.9% decline)
Current population, 2023: 636,644 residents
Past population, 2013: 706,663 residents
Average home value: $59,897
Median household income: $39,575
Most concentrated economic sectors: Administrative and support and waste management services, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance

The post The U.S. Cities People Are Leaving In Droves appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..