Flag of Utah

California Out-Migration Intensifies, Population Moves South

by Wendell Cox — The new Census Bureau population estimates for the states have been released. The nation has experienced its slowest growth since 1938, adding only 0.6 percent to the population between 2017 and 2018...
Chicago’s Gold Coast, by Roman Boed

Suburbs and Exurbs Continue to Dominate Metropolitan Growth at Mid-Decade

by Wendell Cox — America’s suburbs and exurbs continue to receive the most population growth among the 53 major metropolitan areas. This is indicated by data in the just released 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS)...
Boston,MA—Urban Back Bay

How Much Density is Enough?

by Randal O'Toole — Portland New Urbanist Joe Cortright has rarely seen a high-density development he didn’t like. Most recently, he argues that the reason why most most people live in suburbs is that they are forced to do so by evil zoning rules that prohibit that densities that people actually prefer.
Woodruff Place, Indianapolis, IN

Length of Residential Tenure: Metropolitan Areas, Urban Cores, Suburbs & Exurbs

by Wendell Cox — America is less mobile than in the past, but U.S. households tend to live longer in their present residences where population growth has been more modest.
The Big Promise of Our Midsize Metros

“Middle America” in America’s Urban Century

by Jayson White — Many cities, most notably a dozen or two forgotten, flyover cities in middle America are reinvigorating and reinventing themselves in the blink of an eye. In what is sure to be America’s “urban century” this is one of the most important trends to never hit the headlines.
California Exodus

A Generation Plans an Exodus from California

by Joel Kotkin — California is the great role model for America, particularly if you read the Eastern press. Yet few boosters have yet to confront the fact that the state is continuing to hemorrhage people at a higher rate
Happy Labor Day, America (2016)

The Localist Revolution

by David Brooks — Localism is the belief that power should be wielded as much as possible at the neighborhood, city and state levels. Localism is thriving — as a philosophy and a way of doing things — because the national government is dysfunctional while many towns are reviving.
Seattle Ferry shown against downtown skyline

Cautionary Tales from the Cities of Seattle and Philadelphia

by Wendell Cox — For some time now urban core proponents have boasted about a "return to the cities" from the suburbs. While the urban core cities have done better in recent years than before, the claim has been significantly overblown. Suburbs have continued to capture the "lion's share" of growth...
American Heartland Report Cover

Perspectives on Defining the American Heartland

by Ross DeVol — When one hears “American Heartland”–specific images and cultural values come to mind. And yet, a widely shared vision of what geographic region truly comprises the American Heartland has so far proved elusive.
Downtown Provo, Utah

Growth in America is Tilting Toward Smaller Cities

by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires — We are often told that America’s future lies in our big cities; yet the strongest job creation and population growth is now occurring in smaller cities.