Large Cities Were Already Losing Population. Then Came the Coronavirus.

"Cities of all sizes may soon look less alluring, if drastic drops in income, sales and tourism tax revenue leave gaping holes in budgets," according to this article, which encapsulates a popular school of thought as the pandemic rages.

2 minute read

April 21, 2020, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


COVID-19 City

Dim4ik89 / Shutterstock

Sabrina Tavernise and Sarah Mervosh write an article for The New York Times that generated a lot of discussion since its publication because it speaks to one of the big points of debate about the future of cities and development in the wake of the coronavirus, namely, whether people will move away from the city in waves as a result of the pandemic. 

The potential for massive demographic shift away from cities, according to the article, can be traced to the affordability challenges that existed in many large, successful cities before the coronavirus outbreak. The following paragraph pretty much sums up one school of thought that has emerged about how the pandemic will change the United States:

The pandemic has been particularly devastating to America’s biggest cities, as the virus has found fertile ground in the density that is otherwise prized. And it comes as the country’s major urban centers were already losing their appeal for many Americans, as skyrocketing rents and changes in the labor market have pushed the country’s youngest adults to suburbs and smaller cities often far from the coasts.

According to the article, the current effects of the stay-at-home orders in place all over the country, the fear of contagion, and additional concerns, like the long-term budgetary pain expected to overwhelm local and state budgets later this year, could inspire city dwellers to seek less densely populated areas. 

Toward the end of the article, a few prominent voices, like Jed Kolko and Ed Glaeser, are offered a chance at rebutting the premise of the article. Moving is less common in uncertain economic times, according to Kolko, and cities are much healthier than in the past, according to Ed Glaeser. 

For an indication of which way the country is headed, Tavernise and Mervosh cite the situation in Boca Raton, Florida where real estate brokers reports a major increase in homebuying interest from residents currently living in the Northeast.

Monday, April 20, 2020 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

45 minutes ago - Minnesota Reformer

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

1 hour ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit