Almost Half of U.S. Cities to Face Significant Depopulation by 2100, Study Predicts

The Midwest and Northeast are expected to see the greatest declines, posing challenges for basic services and aging infrastructure.

A new study predicts that by 2100, almost half of the 30,000 cities in the United States will lose up to a quarter of their population.
The study combined data from the U.S. Census and climate change scenarios to create their analysis, predicting that the Midwest and Northeast will see the greatest declines.
Urban cities with lower household incomes are expected to take the greatest hits, while high-income cities in suburban and rural areas are expected to increase in population.
The depopulation could disrupt basic services like power, water, and transit services, and pose challenges for aging infrastructure.
The study's authors suggest a shift away from growth-based planning to better accommodate this demographic shift.