In 2009, smaller metro areas benefited from increased government spending while many of the country’s wealthiest areas saw incomes decrease.
Over the past few years, small cities with economies are buoyed by military- and government-related funds have seen per capita income rise while cities across the country generally experienced income decreases. While the wealthiest individuals still tend to be concentrated near large cities with strong finance and business sectors, state capitals, military towns and college towns have more recession-resistant economies, according to Venessa Wong. The recent uptick in personal incomes in cities like Manhattan, Kansas and Jacksonville, North Carolina can be attributed in part to across-the-board increases in federal and military salaries.
Wong writes:
'Of large metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, only three had an increase in both net earnings and personal income in 2009: Washington, D.C., San Antonio, and Virginia Beach-all areas with significant government and military presences.'
FULL STORY: The Money's in Manhattan. Manhattan, Kansas
Americans Continue to Move to Smaller Cities
Cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 continue to see an influx of migrants lured by lower costs of living and high quality-of-life metrics.
Legacy Cities, Post-Pandemic
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U.S. Cities Where Homeowners Stay Put the Longest
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What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
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‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research