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Macon-Bibb has been ranked by WalletHub as the fourteen most recovered city since the recession overall and the second most recoverable mid-sized city since the recession.
2017’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities
by Richie Bernardo | Jan 11, 2017
273 Shares
Top-Image-Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities
For many Americans today, the Great Recession is nothing more than the distant shadow of a troubled economic past. After all, the longest downturn since the Great Depression officially ended in June 2009, and cities coast to coast have completely bounced back. Some have even surpassed their pre-recession economic levels, thanks to lucrative industries that helped them rebuild or stay afloat through the crisis.
Yet the effects of the recession still reverberate in various parts of the U.S., falling deeper into debt and leaving millions of Americans wondering whether the recession has indeed blown over. More than a dozen municipalities, including Detroit, have declared the rare Chapter 9 bankruptcy since 2008.
To measure the progress of local economies since the financial crisis and how much work remains to be done in the name of recovery, WalletHub compared 505 U.S. cities of varying sizes across 18 key economic indicators. Our data set ranges from “inflow of college-educated workers” to “share of households receiving public assistance” to “homeownership rate.” Continue reading below for our findings, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.
1 Main Findings
2 Ranking by City Size
3 Ask the Experts
4 Methodology
Main Findings
1
1
505
505
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Rank City Total Score 'Employment & Earning Opportunities' Rank 'Economic Environment' Rank
1 Midland, TX 69.12 1 1
2 Odessa, TX 65.09 2 4
3 The Woodlands, TX 63.12 27 2
4 College Station, TX 59.91 7 10
5 Edinburg, TX 59.88 9 7
6 Santa Clara, CA 58.55 5 83
7 Mountain View, CA 58.19 6 66
8 Austin, TX 57.41 17 12
9 Provo, UT 57.41 3 148
10 Denver, CO 56.53 8 69
11 Brownsville, TX 56.42 103 3
12 Fargo, ND 56.39 26 18
13 El Paso, TX 56.24 49 9
14 Macon-Bibb, GA 55.83 89 6
15 Redwood City, CA 55.73 4 255
16 Bryan, TX 55.29 40 21
17 Fort Worth, TX 54.96 67 13
18 Sunnyvale, CA 54.72 11 97
19 Boulder, CO 54.66 14 94
20 Killeen, TX 54.65 31 40
21 North Charleston, SC 54.45 21 68
22 Denton, TX 54.32 68 23
23 Corpus Christi, TX 54.27 42 46
24 Lakewood, CO 54.19 41 51
25 Oklahoma City, OK 54.16 32 64
26 League City, TX 54.15 77 19
27 Charleston, SC 54.12 16 99
28 Houston, TX 54 55 34
29 Irving, TX 53.81 51 48
30 Grand Prairie, TX 53.75 95 15
Show All
Artwork-Best And Worst Cities For Recession Recovery report 2017-v1
Ranking by City Size
Rank
Large City Name (Score)
Rank
Midsize City Name (Score)
Rank
Small City Name (Score)
1 Austin, TX
(57.409) 1 Brownsville, TX
(56.421) 1 Midland, TX
(69.115)
2 Denver, CO
(56.531) 2 Macon-Bibb, GA
(55.831) 2 Odessa, TX
(65.089)
3 El Paso, TX
(56.237) 3 Sunnyvale, CA
(54.719) 3 The Woodlands, TX
(63.123)
4 Fort Worth, TX
(54.961) 4 Killeen, TX
(54.645) 4 College Station, TX
(59.908)
5 Corpus Christi, TX
(54.268) 5 Denton, TX
(54.321) 5 Edinburg, TX
(59.875)
6 Oklahoma City, OK
(54.162) 6 Lakewood, CO
(54.186) 6 Santa Clara, CA
(58.554)
7 Houston, TX
(53.995) 7 Charleston, SC
(54.117) 7 Mountain View, CA
(58.194)
8 San Antonio, TX
(53.34) 8 Irving, TX
(53.806) 8 Provo, UT
(57.406)
9 Dallas, TX
(52.48) 9 Grand Prairie, TX
(53.746) 9 Fargo, ND
(56.385)
10 Minneapolis, MN
(52.367) 10 Frisco, TX
(53.277) 10 Redwood City, CA
(55.734)
11 Omaha, NE
(52.092) 11 Waco, TX
(53.205) 11 Bryan, TX
(55.292)
12 San Jose, CA
(52.029) 12 Lubbock, TX
(52.994) 12 Boulder, CO
(54.659)
13 San Francisco, CA
(51.977) 13 Grand Rapids, MI
(52.902) 13 North Charleston, SC
(54.453)
14 Pittsburgh, PA
(51.845) 14 Anchorage, AK
(52.209) 14 League City, TX
(54.152)
15 Washington, DC
(51.407) 15 Carrollton, TX
(52.031) 15 Somerville, MA
(53.746)
16 Oakland, CA
(51.262) 16 McKinney, TX
(51.867) 16 Farmington Hills, MI
(53.612)
17 Nashville, TN
(50.734) 17 Fort Collins, CO
(51.646) 17 Jacksonville, NC
(53.232)
18 St. Louis, MO
(50.559) 18 Sioux Falls, SD
(51.058) 18 Atascocita, TX
(53.139)
19 Columbus, OH
(50.29) 19 Cedar Rapids, IA
(50.926) 19 Wyoming, MI
(53.036)
20 Aurora, CO
(50.057) 20 Columbia, SC
(50.738) 20 Missoula, MT
(53.007)
21 Raleigh, NC
(50.024) 21 McAllen, TX
(50.714) 21 East Orange, NJ
(52.983)
22 Seattle, WA
(49.906) 22 Madison, WI
(50.609) 22 Cambridge, MA
(52.833)
23 Boston, MA
(49.762) 23 Amarillo, TX
(50.55) 23 Milpitas, CA
(52.827)
24 Tulsa, OK
(49.76) 24 Garland, TX
(50.548) 24 Allen, TX
(52.813)
25 Portland, OR
(49.11) 25 Plano, TX
(50.458) 25 Norman, OK
(52.75)
26 Arlington, TX
(49.039) 26 Stamford, CT
(50.349) 26 Greeley, CO
(52.73)
27 Kansas City, MO
(49.002) 27 Jersey City, NJ
(50.134) 27 Richardson, TX
(52.708)
28 New York, NY
(48.743) 28 Kansas City, KS
(50.001) 28 Flower Mound, TX
(52.561)
29 Louisville, KY
(48.713) 29 St. Paul, MN
(49.907) 29 Sugar Land, TX
(52.552)
30 Miami, FL
(48.296) 30 East Los Angeles, CA
(49.77) 30 Lawton, OK
(52.512)
31 New Orleans, LA
(48.11) 31 Bellevue, WA
(49.417) 31 Mission, TX
(52.474)
32 Lexington, KY
(47.897) 32 Lincoln, NE
(49.299) 32 Arvada, CO
(52.445)
33 Philadelphia, PA
(47.805) 33 Buffalo, NY
(49.232) 33 Newton, MA
(52.352)
34 San Diego, CA
(47.603) 34 Arlington, VA
(49.046) 34 Murfreesboro, TN
(52.209)
35 Charlotte, NC
(46.804) 35 Olathe, KS
(48.928) 35 Berkeley, CA
(51.837)
36 Honolulu, HI
(46.417) 36 Durham, NC
(48.79) 36 Centennial, CO
(51.788)
37 Chicago, IL
(46.065) 37 Metairie, LA
(48.676) 37 Tyler, TX
(51.714)
38 Atlanta, GA
(46.003) 38 Pasadena, CA
(48.427) 38 Lynn, MA
(51.546)
39 Sacramento, CA
(45.792) 39 Alexandria, VA
(48.359) 39 Cheektowaga, NY
(51.523)
40 Milwaukee, WI
(45.666) 40 Laredo, TX
(48.312) 40 Kendall, FL
(51.517)
41 Cleveland, OH
(45.496) 41 Pasadena, TX
(48.219) 41 Lawrence, MA
(51.516)
42 Los Angeles, CA
(45.493) 42 New Haven, CT
(48.13) 42 Ann Arbor, MI
(51.297)
43 Long Beach, CA
(45.136) 43 Rochester, NY
(48.083) 43 St. Joseph, MO
(51.26)
44 Bakersfield, CA
(45.106) 44 Baton Rouge, LA
(48.06) 44 San Angelo, TX
(51.247)
45 Indianapolis, IN
(45.049) 45 Salt Lake City, UT
(48.028) 45 Iowa City, IA
(51.118)
46 Wichita, KS
(44.929) 46 Cincinnati, OH
(47.967) 46 San Mateo, CA
(51.064)
47 Santa Ana, CA
(44.738) 47 Thornton, CO
(47.847) 47 St. Cloud, MN
(50.988)
48 Baltimore, MD
(44.308) 48 Providence, RI
(47.649) 48 Duluth, MN
(50.816)
49 Colorado Springs, CO
(44.239) 49 Worcester, MA
(47.594) 49 Sioux City, IA
(50.685)
50 Tampa, FL
(44.155) 50 Fort Wayne, IN
(47.571) 50 Round Rock, TX
(50.599)
51 Memphis, TN
(43.809) 51 Oxnard, CA
(47.536) 51 Missouri City, TX
(50.539)
52 Anaheim, CA
(43.65) 52 Toledo, OH
(47.468) 52 Pearland, TX
(50.531)
53 Virginia Beach, VA
(41.78) 53 Santa Rosa, CA
(47.281) 53 Columbia, MO
(50.37)
54 Albuquerque, NM
(41.029) 54 Yonkers, NY
(47.26) 54 Billings, MT
(50.302)
55 Riverside, CA
(40.622) 55 Augusta, GA
(46.96) 55 Costa Mesa, CA
(50.24)
56 Jacksonville, FL
(40.238) 56 Columbus, GA
(46.834) 56 Parma, OH
(50.079)
57 Fresno, CA
(39.31) 57 Springfield, MO
(46.813) 57 Green Bay, WI
(49.953)
58 Las Vegas, NV
(38.599) 58 Tacoma, WA
(46.725) 58 Asheville, NC
(49.505)
59 Phoenix, AZ
(38.484) 59 Overland Park, KS
(46.501) 59 Hawthorne, CA
(49.464)
60 Mesa, AZ
(38.138) 60 Fremont, CA
(46.471) 60 Clifton, NJ
(49.452)
61 Detroit, MI
(38.071) 61 Cary, NC
(46.46) 61 Santa Maria, CA
(49.361)
62 Tucson, AZ
(37.431) 62 Richmond, VA
(46.431) 62 Plymouth, MN
(49.323)
63 Savannah, GA
(46.417) 63 New Bedford, MA
(49.31)
64 Syracuse, NY
(46.324) 64 Santa Monica, CA
(49.309)
65 Mesquite, TX
(46.297) 65 Bloomington, MN
(49.289)
65 Topeka, KS
(46.297) 66 Bloomington, IN
(49.189)
67 Chula Vista, CA
(46.137) 67 Champaign, IL
(49.158)
68 Des Moines, IA
(45.987) 68 Rochester, MN
(49.111)
69 Knoxville, TN
(45.811) 69 Richmond, CA
(48.983)
70 Chattanooga, TN
(45.687) 70 Edmond, OK
(48.945)
71 Little Rock, AR
(45.682) 71 New Rochelle, NY
(48.919)
72 Springfield, MA
(45.677) 72 Westminster, CO
(48.884)
73 Vancouver, WA
(45.657) 73 Muncie, IN
(48.777)
74 Roseville, CA
(45.587) 74 Lewisville, TX
(48.734)
75 Orlando, FL
(45.565) 75 Waukesha, WI
(48.716)
76 Enterprise, NV
(45.499) 76 Alameda, CA
(48.71)
77 Garden Grove, CA
(45.488) 77 Scranton, PA
(48.527)
78 St. Petersburg, FL
(45.487) 78 Highlands Ranch, CO
(48.266)
79 Irvine, CA
(45.479) 79 Abilene, TX
(48.225)
80 Hayward, CA
(45.407) 80 Broken Arrow, OK
(48.013)
81 Elizabeth, NJ
(45.389) 81 Quincy, MA
(47.956)
82 Warren, MI
(45.25) 82 Kalamazoo, MI
(47.942)
83 Dayton, OH
(44.828) 83 Warwick, RI
(47.937)
84 Fullerton, CA
(44.775) 84 Wichita Falls, TX
(47.868)
85 Gainesville, FL
(44.708) 85 Napa, CA
(47.863)
86 Jackson, MS
(44.684) 86 Greenville, NC
(47.837)
87 Bridgeport, CT
(44.58) 87 Baytown, TX
(47.812)
88 Shreveport, LA
(44.56) 88 Waterloo, IA
(47.751)
89 Concord, CA
(44.497) 89 Hillsboro, OR
(47.685)
90 West Valley City, UT
(44.387) 90 Norwalk, CT
(47.64)
91 Hollywood, FL
(44.345) 91 Appleton, WI
(47.457)
92 Clarksville, TN
(44.046) 92 Silver Spring, MD
(47.424)
93 Glendale, CA
(43.993) 93 West Palm Beach, FL
(47.373)
94 Fort Lauderdale, FL
(43.75) 94 Boca Raton, FL
(47.36)
95 Orange, CA
(43.634) 95 Burbank, CA
(47.344)
96 Joliet, IL
(43.522) 96 Lansing, MI
(47.341)
97 Naperville, IL
(43.445) 97 Longview, TX
(47.268)
98 Port St. Lucie, FL
(43.391) 98 Lake Charles, LA
(47.199)
99 Lancaster, CA
(43.35) 99 Mount Vernon, NY
(47.144)
100 Torrance, CA
(43.283) 100 Framingham, MA
(47.097)
101 Newport News, VA
(43.269) 101 Miami Beach, FL
(47.043)
102 Huntsville, AL
(43.231) 102 Lowell, MA
(47.025)
103 Sterling Heights, MI
(43.127) 103 Cranston, RI
(47.019)
104 Thousand Oaks, CA
(43.09) 104 Rochester Hills, MI
(46.986)
105 Greensboro, NC
(42.943) 105 Troy, MI
(46.983)
106 Huntington Beach, CA
(42.902) 106 Fayetteville, AR
(46.876)
107 Winston-Salem, NC
(42.892) 107 Lawrence, KS
(46.832)
108 Spokane, WA
(42.792) 108 Daly City, CA
(46.702)
109 Boise, ID
(42.608) 109 Lynwood, CA
(46.684)
110 Norfolk, VA
(42.586) 110 Longmont, CO
(46.618)
111 Pembroke Pines, FL
(42.479) 111 Gastonia, NC
(46.58)
112 Fayetteville, NC
(42.216) 112 Yakima, WA
(46.519)
113 Scottsdale, AZ
(42.125) 113 Albany, NY
(46.507)
114 Akron, OH
(42.087) 114 Roanoke, VA
(46.495)
115 Newark, NJ
(42.026) 115 Brooklyn Park, MN
(46.443)
116 Fontana, CA
(41.996) 116 Bellingham, WA
(46.427)
117 Paradise, NV
(41.969) 117 Manchester, NH
(46.408)
118 Elk Grove, CA
(41.887) 118 Flint, MI
(46.402)
119 Coral Springs, FL
(41.646) 119 Kenosha, WI
(46.37)
120 Tallahassee, FL
(41.626) 120 Vacaville, CA
(46.352)
121 Moreno Valley, CA
(41.587) 121 Camden, NJ
(46.346)
122 Mobile, AL
(41.524) 122 Chico, CA
(46.3)
123 Chandler, AZ
(41.19) 123 Florence-Graham, CA
(46.28)
124 Simi Valley, CA
(41.149) 124 Erie, PA
(46.262)
125 Gilbert, AZ
(41.054) 125 Evansville, IN
(46.218)
126 Miramar, FL
(40.918) 126 Livermore, CA
(46.205)
127 Spring Valley, NV
(40.905) 127 Livonia, MI
(46.087)
128 Salinas, CA
(40.855) 128 Pawtucket, RI
(46.085)
129 Eugene, OR
(40.78) 129 Lafayette, LA
(45.979)
130 Chesapeake, VA
(40.576) 130 Lee's Summit, MO
(45.978)
131 Aurora, IL
(40.529) 131 Alhambra, CA
(45.952)
132 Hialeah, FL
(40.506) 132 Santa Barbara, CA
(45.792)
133 Visalia, CA
(40.421) 133 Redondo Beach, CA
(45.768)
134 Ontario, CA
(40.199) 134 Fishers, IN
(45.745)
135 Oceanside, CA
(40.105) 135 Nashua, NH
(45.716)
136 Birmingham, AL
(40.045) 136 Clearwater, FL
(45.709)
137 Salem, OR
(39.969) 137 O'Fallon, MO
(45.691)
138 Rockford, IL
(39.867) 138 Davenport, IA
(45.674)
139 Montgomery, AL
(39.845) 139 Springdale, AR
(45.647)
140 Peoria, AZ
(39.54) 140 Largo, FL
(45.621)
141 Hampton, VA
(39.519) 141 San Leandro, CA
(45.573)
142 Santa Clarita, CA
(39.358) 142 Danbury, CT
(45.534)
143 Cape Coral, FL
(39.227) 143 Arlington Heights, IL
(45.457)
144 Escondido, CA
(39.21) 144 Davie, FL
(45.402)
145 Rancho Cucamonga, CA
(38.996) 145 South Bend, IN
(45.349)
146 Modesto, CA
(38.883) 146 Kenner, LA
(45.181)
147 Pomona, CA
(38.654) 147 Beaumont, TX
(45.179)
148 Tempe, AZ
(38.56) 148 Ogden, UT
(45.177)
149 Palmdale, CA
(38.544) 149 Newport Beach, CA
(45.164)
150 Henderson, NV
(38.221) 150 Downey, CA
(45.131)
151 North Las Vegas, NV
(38.027) 151 Kent, WA
(44.978)
152 Corona, CA
(37.555) 151 Buena Park, CA
(44.978)
153 Sunrise Manor, NV
(36.982) 153 Fairfield, CA
(44.967)
154 Paterson, NJ
(36.903) 154 Deerfield Beach, FL
(44.921)
155 Reno, NV
(36.464) 155 Orem, UT
(44.881)
156 Glendale, AZ
(35.607) 156 Westland, MI
(44.845)
157 Stockton, CA
(32.746) 157 Toms River, NJ
(44.822)
158 San Bernardino, CA
(29.42) 158 Rialto, CA
(44.75)
159 Roswell, GA
(44.723)
160 Dearborn, MI
(44.613)
161 Folsom, CA
(44.561)
162 Schaumburg, IL
(44.422)
163 Hammond, IN
(44.327)
164 Union City, CA
(44.219)
165 Wilmington, DE
(44.189)
166 Union City, NJ
(44.184)
167 Hartford, CT
(44.108)
168 Evanston, IL
(44.018)
169 Lorain, OH
(44.006)
170 Carson, CA
(44.005)
171 West Jordan, UT
(43.964)
172 Lake Forest, CA
(43.933)
173 Inglewood, CA
(43.92)
174 Surprise, AZ
(43.812)
175 Beaverton, OR
(43.69)
176 Passaic, NJ
(43.655)
177 Boynton Beach, FL
(43.641)
178 Pleasanton, CA
(43.629)
179 Mission Viejo, CA
(43.602)
180 Everett, WA
(43.563)
181 Compton, CA
(43.551)
182 Hoover, AL
(43.507)
183 Independence, MO
(43.464)
184 Gresham, OR
(43.426)
185 Chino, CA
(43.416)
186 Canton, OH
(43.368)
187 New Britain, CT
(43.367)
188 Fall River, MA
(43.335)
189 Indio, CA
(43.317)
190 Peoria, IL
(43.244)
191 Bloomington, IL
(43.12)
192 Tustin, CA
(43.114)
193 South Gate, CA
(43.095)
193 Baldwin Park, CA
(43.095)
195 Norwalk, CA
(43.059)
196 Wilmington, NC
(43.014)
197 Columbia, MD
(42.954)
198 Bethlehem, PA
(42.72)
199 Tuscaloosa, AL
(42.682)
200 Merced, CA
(42.637)
201 Palatine, IL
(42.606)
202 Sandy, UT
(42.494)
203 Arden-Arcade, CA
(42.488)
204 Racine, WI
(42.464)
205 Elgin, IL
(42.364)
206 Gulfport, MS
(42.352)
207 Allentown, PA
(42.209)
208 West Covina, CA
(42.13)
209 Spokane Valley, WA
(42.098)
210 Reading, PA
(42.075)
211 Youngstown, OH
(42.056)
212 Suffolk, VA
(41.979)
213 Portsmouth, VA
(41.966)
214 Federal Way, WA
(41.952)
215 High Point, NC
(41.885)
216 Dothan, AL
(41.844)
217 El Monte, CA
(41.837)
218 Whittier, CA
(41.814)
219 Las Cruces, NM
(41.755)
219 Lakewood, CA
(41.755)
221 Springfield, IL
(41.748)
222 Gary, IN
(41.683)
223 St. George, UT
(41.551)
224 Fort Smith, AR
(41.492)
225 Lauderhill, FL
(41.317)
226 Brandon, FL
(41.301)
227 Nampa, ID
(41.293)
228 Sunrise, FL
(41.286)
229 Plantation, FL
(41.235)
230 Waukegan, IL
(41.221)
231 Decatur, IL
(41.169)
232 Pueblo, CO
(41.16)
233 Cicero, IL
(41.008)
234 Town 'n' Country, FL
(40.989)
235 Sandy Springs, GA
(40.949)
236 San Buenaventura, CA
(40.941)
236 Redding, CA
(40.941)
238 Bellflower, CA
(40.911)
239 Yorba Linda, CA
(40.887)
240 Murrieta, CA
(40.856)
241 Weston, FL
(40.705)
242 Skokie, IL
(40.657)
243 Trenton, NJ
(40.648)
244 Santa Fe, NM
(40.491)
245 Vista, CA
(40.467)
246 Hemet, CA
(40.293)
247 Carlsbad, CA
(40.24)
248 Palm Coast, FL
(40.114)
249 Brockton, MA
(39.997)
250 Bend, OR
(39.972)
251 Tracy, CA
(39.939)
252 Clovis, CA
(39.772)
253 Victorville, CA
(39.663)
254 Antioch, CA
(39.61)
255 Southfield, MI
(39.455)
256 El Cajon, CA
(39.185)
257 Avondale, AZ
(39.041)
258 Westminster, CA
(38.945)
259 Waterbury, CT
(38.906)
260 San Marcos, CA
(38.836)
261 Chino Hills, CA
(38.811)
262 Yuma, AZ
(38.76)
263 Redlands, CA
(38.625)
264 Lynchburg, VA
(38.512)
265 Pompano Beach, FL
(38.479)
266 Temecula, CA
(38.272)
267 Lehigh Acres, FL
(38.261)
268 Melbourne, FL
(38.241)
269 Spring Hill, FL
(38.016)
270 Apple Valley, CA
(37.872)
271 Citrus Heights, CA
(37.702)
272 Medford, OR
(37.532)
273 Albany, GA
(37.33)
274 Bolingbrook, IL
(37.217)
275 Rio Rancho, NM
(37.141)
276 Upland, CA
(37.065)
277 Lakeland, FL
(36.944)
278 Miami Gardens, FL
(36.64)
279 Athens, GA
(36.096)
280 Sparks, NV
(35.477)
281 Turlock, CA
(35.413)
282 Palm Bay, FL
(35.042)
283 Hesperia, CA
(34.926)
284 Vallejo, CA
(32.11)
285 Deltona, FL
(31.288)
Ask the Experts
Local economies still struggling to rebound from the downturn risk losing their skilled workforce or filing for bankruptcy. But, with some strategizing, they may be able to avoid such lasting consequences and extreme remedies. We turned to a panel of leading experts for advice on what policymakers, businesses and citizens can focus on in order to achieve recovery. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to following key questions.
How can local authorities make their cities more “recession-proof”?
What can public and private sectors do to facilitate economic growth?
What are some leading indicators that a city is poised for an economic upswing? What might suggest an impending downturn?
Are there any benefits to moving to an economically depressed city?
How should residents decide when it's time to cut their losses and move from an economically depressed city?
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Back to All Experts
Richard Lloyd
Associate Professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University
Richard Lloyd
How can local authorities make their cities more “recession proof”?
Recession and recovery are geographically uneven phenomena. The urban crisis of the 1970's was not reflected in the broader economy, and the Sunbelt and the suburbs flourished during a decade when the older "inner-city" decayed (especially in the erstwhile rustbelt). Moreover, just because a city like Nashville has come out comparatively well during this recession that does not make it "recession proof." There may be reasons why some cities are doing better in a recession than others, but the tables can turn the next time out, and the dynamics driving a given recession tend to be far more evident in hindsight.
While I think that leadership in the city has been good, Nashville also benefits from factors largely outside local control, historical and regional. That is, the South has been booming in both economic and population terms for decades, and the region has embraced urbanization, although following a more auto-centric and sprawling pattern than older cities did. See my Annual Review of Sociology paper "Urbanization and the Southern United States" from 2012. Also, Nashville did not really participate in the housing bubble to the extent that some sunbelt cities like LA and Phoenix did, so housing prices did not collapse to the same extent, and thus values recovered quickly.
Indeed, a decade ago the sense was that Nashville was lagging, especially in the development of high rise apartments, core city living and the attendant amenity mix attractive to new urban professionals. The existence of this void has created a context for substantial investment to redress the situation, so now we have a building boom even as some peer cities languish with a continuing glut. At the moment, the city remains relatively affordable, but this is changing, and other problems associated with the local boom are emerging (traffic and an increasing shortage of affordable new development).
Facilitating growth locally depends on a number of external factors. Currently, there is a lot of mimesis across cities in the quest to construct the ideal typical creative class environments Richard Florida describes, though here local growth interests in the public and private have to contend with obstacles including often-uncongenial built environments in lower density cities. Moreover, growth comes with trade-offs, and the aggressive agenda of courting younger, highly educated residents leaves much of the city's population feeling left behind. There remain questions about whether high end gentrification is sustainable as a growth strategy, and certainly complaints about the social justice consequences for the city as a whole.
With a city like Detroit, the today poster child of urban failure, it is worth keeping in mind that many of the factors that made it the capital city of the postwar, international industrial economy are today part of what makes its problems appear so intractable. There is no such thing as a recession proof city, or industry, and leaders in the public and private sectors tend to flatter themselves excessively for good outcomes largely dependent on external factors.
Marilyn P. Watkins
Policy Director of the Economic Opportunity Institute and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington
Gary Paul Green
Professor and Chair of the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology, at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Christopher Fowler
Assistant Professor of Geography at Pennsylvania State University
Annika Hinze
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Fordham University
Richard Lloyd
Associate Professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University
Back to All Experts
Marilyn P. Watkins
Policy Director of the Economic Opportunity Institute and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington
Marilyn P. Watkins
How can local authorities make their cities more “recession proof”?
People want to live and work in places with good schools, strong infrastructure, and vibrant cultural and business districts. Local authorities can make their cities more “recession proof” through steady investments and sensible regulations that protect public health and safety and build economic security.
Decent streets, reliable public transit, and safe drinking water help individuals and businesses of all kinds function efficiently. Sidewalks, parks, community centers, and libraries raise the quality of life and promote a sense of community cohesion and pride. Living wages for city contractors and local minimum wage and paid sick days laws increase the health and economic security of workers and their families, making them better customers for local businesses and helping them weather economic downturns.
What can the public and private sectors do to facilitate economic growth?
Thoughtful zoning codes along with targeted infrastructure investments can help revitalize rundown business and residential districts. A key historic or natural feature of the city can be a good hub from which to build out public and private investments: for example, turning an old railway station into a famers’ and craft market, or transforming a riverbank from a wasteland to a beautiful park with trails, sidewalk cafes, and spaces for cultural festivals. Investing in schools and promising high school graduates free college tuition will be a powerful draw to striving individuals who want the best for their kids and will provide new talent and energy to the local economy.
Are there any benefits to moving to an economically depressed city?
Inexpensive housing is an obvious advantage to an economically depressed city – especially with soaring housing prices in boom cities such as Seattle. Millennials tend to prefer city living with its often messy diversity, where work and play are all in close proximity, to a bland suburban existence heavily dependent on spending hours in an automobile.
How should residents decide when it's time to cut their losses and move from an economically depressed city?
We’re a mobile society. Many of our cities are brimming with people who moved in from other states and countries. Picking up stakes and seeking our fortune elsewhere is part of the American psyche. At the same time, moving can be expensive and risky. Housing costs more in cities with growing economies, moving in usually requires a deposit along with first and last months’ rent, and finding a job that pays a living wage often takes time.
For many of us, a sense of home, family and community are keys to a happy life. Once the basics of shelter and food are covered, being close to people we love can be more important than a chance for riches elsewhere. Moreover, family and friends can be a critical source of support through financial and personal storms. We live in a democratic society, where engaged citizens have the power to transform their communities themselves – if they come together with a shared vision. Whether or not to move on will be a highly individual decision with no right answer.
Methodology
To assess the progress of local cities in propelling their economic growth, WalletHub’s analysts compared 505 U.S. cities of varying sizes across two key dimensions, including “Employment & Earning Opportunities” and “Economic Environment.”
Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area. Each city was categorized based on the following population-size guidelines:
Large City: More than 300,000 residents
Midsize City: 125,000 to 300,000 residents
Small City: Fewer than 125,000 residents
We evaluated each dimension using 18 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the highest level of economic recovery.
For each metric (except “Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Filing”), we analyzed the change between the city’s pre- and post-recession levels. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.
Finally, we calculated overall scores for each city based on its weighted average across all metrics and used the resulting scores to rank the cities accordingly.
Employment & Earning Opportunities – Total Points: 50
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
Inflow of College-Educated Workers (%): Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
Ratio of Part-Time to Full-Time Jobs: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
Median Household Income: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
Labor-Force Participation Rate: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
Non-Farm Payrolls Change: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
Economic Environment – Total Points: 50
Median Home Price: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Share of Households Receiving Public Assistance: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Population Size: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Bankruptcy: Half* Weight (~2.00 Points)
Number of Businesses: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Experian Vantage Credit Score: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Consumer Non-Housing Debt: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
GMP (Gross Metropolitan Product): Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Filing: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
Note: This is a binary metric that considers either the presence or absence of a Chapter 9 (municipal) bankruptcy filing.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, ATTOM Data Solutions (RealtyTrac), Experian and United States Common Sense.
Author
Follow Richie Bernardo Richie Bernardo User
Richie Bernardo is a personal finance writer at WalletHub. He graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism and a minor in business from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Previously, he was a…
3725 Wallet Points
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