In recent years, population shifts have been seen in the U.S. Sunbelt, a collective of 18 southern states between North Carolina and California, according to a report.
Data from multiple sources, including RealAssets Adviser, found that statistically, about 75% of the country's population has shifted to the Sun Belt states over the past decade due to lower tax rates, more affordable housing, and a growing commercial sector.
As a result, the population in some states has seen significant declines. Here are the cities that saw the fastest declines, according to an analysis by Yahoo Finance, which looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau between 2020 and 2022.
10. Berkeley, California
Between 2020 and 2022, the city's population has declined by 4.23%. This despite Berkeley being situated along the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay Area and serving as the home to several high-ranking universities.
9. Redwood City, California
Situated in the Northern California Bay Area, Redwood City saw a -4.30% change in population during the same period.
8. San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city situated in Alameda County and is near Oakland and San Francisco. The city has seen a -4.34% change in its population.
7. Daly City, California
Daly City is part of San Mateo County and is often considered an extension of San Francisco. Between 2020 and 2022, the city saw a -4.42% change in population.
6. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is known as the largest and most densely populated area in the state. Despite that, it saw a 4.57% decline in population.
5. St. Louis, Missouri
The city of St. Louis is part of the bi-state metropolitan area of Illinois. Its close proximity to both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers makes St. Louis an economically significant city in the state. Between 2020 and 2022, St. Louis' population declined by 4.62%.
4. New York City, New York
Despite being a global hub for finance, entertainment, and culture, the city of New York has seen a-4.63% change in population between 2020 and 2022.
3. Revere City, Massachusetts
With its close proximity to Boston, Revere sees scores of tourists each year. However, the city saw its population decline by 5.39%.
2. Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is known for its tourism, petrochemical refining industry, and other industrial setups. However, the city's population declined by 6.78%.
1. San Francisco, California
Ranking first on the list is San Francisco, a vibrant city with a dense population known as a financial and commercial hub. The city attracts both tourists and students every year. However, its population declined by 7.11% between 2020 and 2022.
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