10 Cities with The Highest Out Migration in America

Detroit’s example might be the most obvious, but Motor City is just one of cities with the highest out migration in America. While most cities and towns across the states are showcasing steady, and even speedy growth rates, there are those that have shown the signs of decline over the last few years. We will not delve too much into the reasons why cities are losing population. We’ll only present you with the list of top 10 US cities with negative migration rates. Some reasons, however, are clear by themselves.

Cities with highest out migration are actually cities with highest negative net migration. This means that these cities have recorded the largest losses through both international and domestic migrations. This, however, doesn’t mean that these cities’ total population has declined. On the contrary – some of them have even managed to grow. This is the result of the natural change which is the difference between newborn and deceased people over a select period. So, with that in mind, we’ll only take into account the difference between exclusively negative domestic migration rates and fluctuating international migration rates. You can also take a look at this list of 21 biggest cities in the US by 2014 population, and see how many of them are losing population through highly negative net migration.

Our data has been pulled from Governing’s webpage which displays migration rates among other data. They have observed both immigration (movement of people into designated country or city) and emigration (the act of leaving one’s country or city of residence) for the time frame between 2010 and 2013. They have made an observation that during that time around 3 million people moved into US metro areas from abroad or rural areas. International migration doesn’t consider only immigrants. It also includes natives returning to the states and their family members as well. Some cities have benefited from these movements, while others came out short. It’s no secret that northern states are generally losing their population in favor of Sun Belt states in the South. That migration pattern within the US has been established some time ago, and it’s still going strong. It will come as no surprise then, that most of the metro areas from this list of 10 cities with the highest out migration in America are from the north of US. In fact, if you divide the country down the middle by latitude, you’ll see that all metro areas from the list apart from one are north of this line. Now, some metro areas have been losing their population for a long while, and this trend threatens them still. The depressed economy is usually the reason, and we all know that the likes of Detroit and Cleveland have applied themselves in trying to stimulate growth. They are still unsuccessful, but fortunately, things are looking for the better. Being large cities, they, at least, receive a number of immigrants that are trying to balance the scales and negate the enormous out migration. Some smaller communities, however, aren’t that lucky, and not only that they exhibit negative natural change – they also showcase negative net migration rates. Let us now move on to the list itself.

10. Fresno, CA

Net migration: -7,207

Fresno is a city of some half a million inhabitants whose metro area is double the size of that. This Californian city has grown by some 25,000 people during the observed period which is a growth rate of 2.7%. However, Fresno’s net migration is negative even though the city has received 5,077 immigrants during the mentioned period. A large number of locals amounting to 12,284 have left the city in search for a better life. Silicon Valley and Bay Area’s close vicinity might be the reason for such a trend, but that certainly isn’t all. People are moving to other parts of the country as well. At least, Fresno is showcasing a healthy growth rate (healthiest you’re gonna see on this list, by the way), and displays a potential to overcome Baltimore and Detroit in a decade or two if mentioned cities’ fortunes don’t turn around.

9. Hanford – Corcoran, CA

Net migration: -7,845

Hanford – Corcoran metro area is just a tad bit south from Fresno going by California State Routes 99 and 43 respectively. It’s a much smaller community than Fresno, but its negative net migration is even larger. Net migration rate ( the difference between immigrants and emigrants divided by 1,000 citizens) amounts to -52, and needless to say, this is the lowest net migration rate figure on this list by far. Playing with more accurate figures, Hanford – Corcoran metro area, has received 1,038 international immigrants, but it has also lost 8,883 of its citizens due to emigration. This is the main reason the city’s overall population has declined by 1.3% over the course of those three years.

8. Milwaukee – Waukesha – West Allis, WI

Net migration: -8,825

Half of Wisconsin’s counties are exhibiting a population decline, and state’s largest metro area is no different. Milwaukee – Waukesha – West Allis have at least managed to grow by meager 0.9% between 2010 and 2013. In precise figures, that would be a growth of 13,751 people. Natives have, however, decided to pack their bags and go in even greater number. 15,876 citizens have left greater Milwaukee during those three years, and hadn’t it been for 7,042 international migrants – Brew City would be in a certain decline.

7. Rockford, IL

Net migration: -8,966

Rockford, Illinois is one of those unlucky towns with negative growth rate. The city’s metro area has lost 4,808 people or 1.4% of its population in total. Rockford is actually the state leader in population loss, and the state of Illinois itself leads the US in this negative trend. I think that this speaks for itself. During those three years, Rockford has lost 9,801 of its citizens, and meager immigration gain of 835 people wasn’t nearly enough to balance the scales.

6. Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Net migration: -9,261

Memphis is the only one on our list of 10 cities with the highest out migration in America located south of the aforementioned latitude divider. Unlike most of the southern cities in the country, Memphis has been losing population for decades now. Between 2010 and 2013, however, the city has managed to record a gain of 16,917 people or 1.3%. This gain, however, has to be accredited to the annexation of suburban areas. 14,506 people have left the town during the period, and only one third or 5,245 immigrants have come to take their place.

5. Flint, MI

Net migration: -13,079

Flint itself has around 100,000 inhabitants, but its metro area is roughly four times larger. Still, greater Flint has managed to record a loss of 10,414 inhabitants which translates to 2.4% of its total population. This is the biggest loss of population you’re gonna see on this list – percentage-wise. International migration of 678 people in total, as you might have guessed, wasn’t enough for Michigan’s fourth largest metro area to record a positive net migration rate. This is mostly due to 13,757 people who have decided to move away and look for greener pastures.

4. St. Louis, MO-IL

Net migration: -17,806

St. Louis finds itself straight on top of the mentioned dividing line between America’s geographic north and south. City’s metro area which spans across the states of Missouri and Illinois has grown in size by a half percent or 13,362 citizens. Negative net migration rate, however, shows us that St. Louis has long since ceased to be Gateway to the West. Greater St. Louis has lost 30,308 of its citizens due to domestic migration, while only 12,502 people have arrived from international waters. If this trend continues, the city of St. Louis itself might drop below 300,000 inhabitants for the first time since 1870. Frightening, isn’t it?

3. Cleveland – Elyria, OH

Net migration: -20,216

This really isn’t anything new, but Cleveland finds its way to this list of country leaders among cities with negative population changes. The Forest City has recorded a loss of 12,520 inhabitants during the course of three years starting from 2010. This is a loss of 0.6% which doesn’t sound that bad compared to years before. While things aren’t as grim as they used to be, they still aren’t exactly good either. The fact that Cleveland is undesirable can be seen from 31,857 people that have left it, and only 11,641 immigrants that came to take their place. Many experts have their own opinions on how to reverse this trend for Cleveland, but all of them agree on this: new jobs, and lots of them.

2. Detroit – Warren – Dearborn, MI

Net migration: -36,561

Detroit has lost more than 50% of its population since its 1.8 million peak during the early fifties. The city is now below 700,000 citizens, but Detroit – Warren – Dearborn combined statistical area has more than 5 million inhabitants. Motor City’s and automobile industry’s fates have always been intertwined, and car industry’s decline is the main reason for Detroit being in such a sad state. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have started moving out of central Detroit somewhere at the time of its peak, but automation too had a large impact on job cuts. When German and Japanese competition finally arrived, everyone knew that the Big Three had to implement some significant changes to their respective business models, which in turn doomed Detroit. During the period between 2010 and 2013, the city has lost only 1,330 inhabitants in total. However, 69,075 people have skipped town, while only 32,514 immigrants have arrived. Purely migration-wise, Detroit is at a great loss.

1. Chicago – Naperville – Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Net migration: -98,236

Greater Chicago has, as you can see, lost by far the most citizens among 10 cities with the highest out migration in America. While total population has risen by a considerable amount (76,184 citizens), The Windy City has lost 172,378 of its inhabitants due to domestic migrations. At the same time, 74,142 international migrants have found their new home here. Job dissatisfaction and lack of job opportunities are probably the main reasons for people leaving Chicago, but the weather certainly plays its part as well. We are living in the 21st century after all, and it’s much easier to pack and leave today than it was a few decades ago – even for reasons one would never have thought leaving back in the day.