Who will cross the next million mark first? (Chicago: crime rates, unemployment rate)

[DANNYY]

I want to see how you guys feel about this, and I want to see if you guys think our city is growing again.

Chicago, Illinois 2,836,658
Los Angeles, California 3,834,340

Who do you think will be crossing into the next million mark first, I have read that Chicago's gaining population yet again.

Los Angeles reaching 4 million is nearly an identical situation for Chicago reaching 3 million.

In your honest opinion, and if you can support it with facts or development stories, who do you think will be crossing into the next million first?

[Drover]

The one right in the path of oncoming waves of Latino immigrants.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Drover

The one right in the path of oncoming waves of Latino immigrants.

Technically both get a lot of that. Los Angeles gets a bit more, but Chicago has more inner city revitalization plans than Los Angeles.

So, it's hard to tell actually.

Both have had a strong outbound migration level, with Los Angeles being a bit higher.

[Drover]

L.A. doesn't get a tad more, it gets a lot more. It's not hard to tell -- the long-term demographic trends tell the tale and there's no sign that those trends will significantly change any time soon.

[Chicago60614]

It also still has some land left to build on, which Chicago stopped doing 50 years ago.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

It also still has some land left to build on, which Chicago stopped doing 50 years ago.

We can build on burned out industrial sites, but that's about it.

[Avengerfire]

Another population thread?

[msb0810]

I honestly think Houston City will reach 3 million before Chicago City.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by msb0810

I honestly think Houston City will reach 3 million before Chicago City.

Is that because you are from Texas and want Houston to cross 3 million before Chicago does again or is it a belief backed up by some kind of reasoning?

As of the 2000 census Houston was about 1,005,000 short of 3 million and Chicago was about 105,000 short of 3 million.

Unofficial totals as of 2009 are Houston around 2,250,000 and Chicago around 2,850,000.

Houston has grown since 2000, but it is pretty far from surpassing Chicago at this time. It very well might in the next 10-20 years, we shall see.

If you want to be technical Chicago already did reach 3 million in the 1920's.

[Bluefox]

I've always wondered why everyone thinks a growing population is so significant. Is it based on an assumption that bigger = better? I can refute that assumption with two words: Mexico City.

What I'd be more interested in seeing is:

Which city's property values are increasing?
Which city's crime rates are decreasing?
Which city's unemployment rates are improving?
Which city's pollution levels are improving?

Just because a city is growing doesn't mean it's getting better. Conversely, just because a city isn't growing as fast or is even decreasing in population doesn't necessarily mean it's getting worse. Sure, people are more likely to move to cities with good reputations, but not always. There are many many many factors involved. But in terms of what makes a city great, raw numbers are quite insignificant.