The decrease in Altoona’s people can be due in nearly equal parts to natural population decline – fewer births and more deaths – as well as net outbound migration. With Altoona being a lovely city set in Blair County, Pennsylvania, it’s currently home to nearly 5,000 fewer people than ten years ago.
Over the last decade, Pennsylvania’s population grew by 0.8%. Many of the fastest shrinking cities in the country tend to have lower incomes. In Altoona, the typical household earns $45,664 a year, well below the median annual household income of $56,951 across Pennsylvania.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit grew considerably over the first five decades of the 20th century – from 285,704 in 1900 to 1.85 million in 1950, becoming the fifth-largest city in the country. Just as heavy industry growth helped Detroit become the flourishing motor manufacturing capital, rapid declines in the sector led to heavy job losses and its population's mass exodus.
As is generally the case, Detroit struggles with high violent crime and poverty rates. Nearly 40% of the city's community lives in poverty.
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston lies nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, with many good people and a lot of Baptist churches. But over the past decade, Anniston and the surrounding area's population dwindled by 3.5% – even as the state of Alabama's population grew by 2.1%. This shift happened as people moved out in favor of areas with better employment opportunities.
Over the last decade, the number of jobs in the metro area fell by 4.8%. The Anniston metro area's job market remains worse than it is across the state as a whole. In 2018, 4.7% of this city's workers were out of a job compared to Alabama's 4.1% unemployment rate.
Willowbrook, California
The general atmosphere in Willowbrook is very tense. The crime in this area is not a myth. Critical issues also include socio-economic difficulties, cultural division, limited health care, and gang violence. Organizations have long focused on the community, but their plans have not always gained enough traction.
Most would perceive Willowbrook and the adjacent communities of Watts and Compton as ground zero for poverty, gang violence, and low educational attainment. However, like many communities, Willowbrook is comprised of complex identities.
Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Pawcatuck is a neat little village-town in the overly-price County of New London in Connecticut, with a small population of 5,249. Living in Pawcatuck offers residents a sparse suburban feel, and most residents own their homes.
Many families live in Pawcatuck, and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Pawcatuck are highly rated, but beyond that, there's not much room for expansion. Connecticut itself is also quite expensive...