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Upstate cities have really been gentrifying lately, and data backs it up.
According to this study from the Brookings Institution, the 95th percentile income in Buffalo CITY rose from 137k to 158k between 2014 and 2016 (only two years!) Among the 100 largest US metros, only a handful did better than Buffalo. Rochester and Syracuse did pretty well as well: 122K to 132K and 130K to 142K respectively. On a side note, this clearly illustrates Buffalo has the most affluent urban core of all the upstate cities, likely due to Elmwood Village/North Buffalo, which has exploded affluence-wise the last several years.
On the flip side, the lowest 20th percentile is a different story. Incomes rose from $11,684 to $11,832 in Buffalo, $11,531 to $11,689 in Syracuse, but plummeted to $10,699 in Rochester from $12,510. Rochester was the only large city in America to experience a significant decline in the lowest 20th percentile incomes. Ouch. Buffalo and Syracuse didn't do much better.
Therefore, the ratio between the 95th to 5th incomes increased from 11.7 to 13.4 in Buffalo, 11.3 to 12.1 in Syracuse, and from 9.7 to 12.3 in Rochester.
*This data is for core cities only, not metro areas.*
Upstate cities have really been gentrifying lately, and data backs it up.
According to this study from the Brookings Institution, the 95th percentile income in Buffalo CITY rose from 137k to 158k between 2014 and 2016 (only two years!) Among the 100 largest US metros, only a handful did better than Buffalo. Rochester and Syracuse did pretty well as well: 122K to 132K and 130K to 142K respectively. On a side note, this clearly illustrates Buffalo has the most affluent urban core of all the upstate cities, likely due to Elmwood Village/North Buffalo, which has exploded affluence-wise the last several years.
On the flip side, the lowest 20th percentile is a different story. Incomes rose from $11,684 to $11,832 in Buffalo, $11,531 to $11,689 in Syracuse, but plummeted to $10,699 in Rochester from $12,510. Rochester was the only large city in America to experience a significant decline in the lowest 20th percentile incomes. Ouch. Buffalo and Syracuse didn't do much better.
Therefore, the ratio between the 95th to 5th incomes increased from 11.7 to 13.4 in Buffalo, 11.3 to 12.1 in Syracuse, and from 9.7 to 12.3 in Rochester.
*This data is for core cities only, not metro areas.*
A lot of this when comparing cities comes back to the difference in city limit annexation/boundary differences, which the article essentially states, with maybe an exception or two.
Upstate cities have really been gentrifying lately, and data backs it up.
According to this study from the Brookings Institution, the 95th percentile income in Buffalo CITY rose from 137k to 158k between 2014 and 2016 (only two years!) Among the 100 largest US metros, only a handful did better than Buffalo. Rochester and Syracuse did pretty well as well: 122K to 132K and 130K to 142K respectively. On a side note, this clearly illustrates Buffalo has the most affluent urban core of all the upstate cities, likely due to Elmwood Village/North Buffalo, which has exploded affluence-wise the last several years.
On the flip side, the lowest 20th percentile is a different story. Incomes rose from $11,684 to $11,832 in Buffalo, $11,531 to $11,689 in Syracuse, but plummeted to $10,699 in Rochester from $12,510. Rochester was the only large city in America to experience a significant decline in the lowest 20th percentile incomes. Ouch. Buffalo and Syracuse didn't do much better.
Therefore, the ratio between the 95th to 5th incomes increased from 11.7 to 13.4 in Buffalo, 11.3 to 12.1 in Syracuse, and from 9.7 to 12.3 in Rochester.
*This data is for core cities only, not metro areas.*
A lot of the Rochester data is most likely do to the shrinking of Kodak and Xerox. Both companies hired lots of people to do basically very easy work for good wages. Many people didn't improve themselves over just the basics, and when the jobs went away, found themselves unemployed and unskilled. What a shame.
A lot of the Rochester data is most likely do to the shrinking of Kodak and Xerox. Both companies hired lots of people to do basically very easy work for good wages. Many people didn't improve themselves over just the basics, and when the jobs went away, found themselves unemployed and unskilled. What a shame.
Also, I wonder how different things would be if RIT stayed within city limits, as it could have served as an innovation hub within the city.
Also, I wonder how different things would be if RIT stayed within city limits, as it could have served as an innovation hub within the city.
RIT is within 2 miles of the city and well served with public transportation. I believe RIT still has a downtown "campus". No, it's not about location, it's about people, and their lack of motivation.
A lot of the Rochester data is most likely do to the shrinking of Kodak and Xerox. Both companies hired lots of people to do basically very easy work for good wages. Many people didn't improve themselves over just the basics, and when the jobs went away, found themselves unemployed and unskilled. What a shame.
That sounds about right. The rest of the metro's growth at least partially offsets this.
RIT is within 2 miles of the city and well served with public transportation. I believe RIT still has a downtown "campus". No, it's not about location, it's about people, and their lack of motivation.
Yes, I am familiar with its current location. I was thinking in terms of the development it could or might have brought to the city if its main campus was still within the city. That in turn could have been a driver in bringing in and attracting more people within the city itself via students, employees and maybe companies that spin off from research/development that occurs there.
I’m only mentioning this due the data referring to the city proper.
This also doesn’t get into impact of urban renewal on these cities comparatively in this regard as well.
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