New 2014 census estimates - Birmingham grows by 318 residents year over year (Hoover: sales, insurance)

[ashpelham]

This isn't just a trend with Birmingham. The state as a whole just isn't an attractive place to move to, unless a specific job has brought you here. It's just not a destination, as much as the state's leaders like to brag about our supposed low cost of living.

relative to average wages, it isn't that cheap to live here. Housing is basically free, but that's what happens when people are net leaving the state.

[jdawson1237]

Great point ashpelham. But that also speaks more highly of Bham and its growth, albeit very small. You're right, Alabama is simply not an attractive place to live and there are much more attractive places with the same living costs with higher standards of living. But, the fact that Bham is growing at all when no new industries are coming in is a testament to some kinda change happening. Whether it's quality and sustainable change is the argument.

At least this post forces one to compare Bham to other MSAs or CSAs and keep it in its league.

And no one is denying that CSA should be considered! Most big cities have strangely small city limit populations. I personally like more of a radius comparison.

[sacdukeman]

Just curious - what cities (or states) would you put as examples of "there are much more attractive places with the same living costs with higher standards of living"? I realize the "more attractive" part is subjective, but the last two criteria are mostly objective.

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by sacdukeman

Just curious - what cities (or states) would you put as examples of "there are much more attractive places with the same living costs with higher standards of living"? I realize the "more attractive" part is subjective, but the last two criteria are mostly objective.

Salt Lake City, Utah... Madison, Wisconsin

[sacdukeman]

I disagree. Both pretty, to be sure. Madison is brutally cold in winter though - one of my teammates at Duke was from there.

I've only been through Salt Lake as a drive by. Obviously colder in the winter and arid in the summer. It's more expensive in terms of housing cost with lower appeal than the nice Birmingham suburbs and has higher prop tax (by a lot), has a flat 5% income tax with no federal tax deduction (you have it sweet in that regard!), plus it taxes social security.

[SickOfAllThePC1983]

Originally Posted by steveklein

From 2013 to 2014, Birmingham grew by 318 residents, from 211,929 to 212,247.
In 2010 (adjusted for annexations and other factors), Birmingham's population stood at 212,193. The city has added approximately 54 residents in 4 years.

Here are some other cities around the region and how they have fared since 2010:

Charlotte - 735,758 to 809,958 (+74,200)
Oklahoma City, OK - 580,008 to 620,602 (+40,594)
Nashville, TN - 603,506 to 644,014 (+40,508)
Raleigh - 403,971 to 439,896 (+35,925)
Jacksonville, FL - 821,784 to 853,382 (+31,598)
Orlando, FL - 238,834 to 262,372 (+23,538)
Durham, NC - 228,404 to 251,893 (+23,489)
Tampa, FL - 335,715 to 358,699 (+22,984)
Louisville, KY - 597,265 to 612,780 (+15,515)
Greensboro, NC - 268,877 to 282,586 (+13,709)
Richmond, VA - 204,246 to 217,853 (+13,607)
Winston-Salem, NC - 229,634 to 239,269 (+9,635)
Huntsville, AL - 180,241 to 188,226 (+7,985)
Tulsa, OK - 391,922 to 399,682 (+7,760)
Knoxville, TN - 178,764 to 184,281 (+5,517)
Memphis, TN - 651,858 to 656,861 (+5,003)
Chattanooga, TN - 168,828 to 173,778 (+4,950)
Little Rock, AR - 193,524 to 197,706 (+4,182)
Greenville, SC - 59,153 to 62,252 (+3,099)
Birmingham, AL - 212,193 to 212,247 (+54)
Mobile, AL - 195,243 to 194,675 (-568)
Jackson, MS - 173,593 to 171,155 (-2,438)
Montgomery, AL - 205,595 to 200,481 (-5,114)

Isn't it so very curious a thing that the bottom of the list are all Black majority cities???


But no, let's keep right on hating white people and letting political correctness allow black folks to destroy their cities and the long term future of said communities.


Alabama would be a magical, wondrous, prosperous state if not for this blight that is all too commonplace among the region of the deep south.


Crying shame.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by SickOfAllThePC1983

Isn't it so very curious a thing that the bottom of the list are all Black majority cities???


But no, let's keep right on hating white people and letting political correctness allow black folks to destroy their cities and the long term future of said communities.


Alabama would be a magical, wondrous, prosperous state if not for this blight that is all too commonplace among the region of the deep south.




Crying shame.

Memphis is 63% black and has a high crime rate and gained 5k.
Richmond is majority black and gained 13k
Mobile is barely majority black and lost 500 (That can be gained with births).

Not all majority black cities are in decline some are prospering. The white flight is deeper than " blaming white man" .The question is what is the real reason behind white flight ?

[SickOfAllThePC1983]

Agreed, it indeed does go deeper than my oversimplification. Nevertheless, there is a marked trend there, when you look down the bottom of the list and see Montgomery, Jackson and Birmingham.


And it's certainly not to be written off as "coincidence".


All I'm saying.

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by SickOfAllThePC1983

Agreed, it indeed does go deeper than my oversimplification. Nevertheless, there is a marked trend there, when you look down the bottom of the list and see Montgomery, Jackson and Birmingham.


And it's certainly not to be written off as "coincidence".


All I'm saying.

Correlation does not equal causation.

Kids in the USA watch more TV than kids in sub-saharan Africa. Lifespans are longer in the United States. Watching TV as a kid increases your lifespan!

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by SickOfAllThePC1983

Agreed, it indeed does go deeper than my oversimplification. Nevertheless, there is a marked trend there, when you look down the bottom of the list and see Montgomery, Jackson and Birmingham.


And it's certainly not to be written off as "coincidence".


All I'm saying.

Fair enough I see your point.