Building the New America: Report on trends shaping the migration of people and jobs

Report: Building the New America

How do we build a new urban model for America — one that is better aligned with the aspirations of most Americans? This newly released report examines the housing trends that are driving today's migration of people and jobs.
Photo credit: Hatham Al Shabibi on Unsplash

The End of Aspiration

by Joel Kotkin — Since the end of the Second World War, middle- and working-class people across the Western world have sought out—and, more often than not, achieved—their aspiration. These usually included a stable income, a home, a family, and the prospect of a comfortable retirement.
Merced, California — now part of Bay Area Sprawl

Anti-“Sprawl” Bay Area Leads Expanding Metropolitan Regions

by Wendell Cox — This article examines metropolitan regions based on Office of Budget & Management boundaries. It illustrates that, despite the desires of planners and environmentalists to limit “sprawl”, labor markets continue to expand their footprint, particularly in the most regulated regions such as the Bay Area.
Millennials in Downtown Houston

Where Millennials Really Go For Jobs

by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox — Contrary to media hype, young workers aren't flocking to "superstar" cities. In fact, a new Brookings study shows millennials are moving away from metros with dense big cities.
Photo credit: Dllu — Pittsburgh at night

15th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2019

by Wendell Cox — The 15th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey covers 309 metropolitan housing markets (metropolitan areas) in eight countries, rating middle-income housing affordabiliyy.
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