Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have 2 quick questions that experts on gentrification and revitalizing towns can help me with. From what I am seeing, small towns are dying out at an alarming rate, my home town of 2000, had a population of 3000 in the 90s, and I wouldnt be surprised in the population is 1500 in the 2020 census, people are leaving this small town just like they are everywhere. I can't blame people, there are no jobs around here and nothing to do. I dont see people giving a crap about living here unless some jobs appear. But why would any employer come here if the place is so boring? Its sort of a circular problem. So I think this place will continue to decline until it fails to exist like other small towns around the country. Has anyone ever heard of a small town revitalizing without jobs opening near by? Declining neighborhoods in big cities will gentrify because jobs and entertainment in the area create a demand for housing. If the trend keeps up, small towns will die out completely. Is there any hope for small towns in the future?
Like many things, I think it all depends. If it's isolated, like my hometown in South Dakota, I don't see any real reason for any significant growth. Mine was a farming community. It peaked in population during the early 19870s, but mainly because of the posts world war baby boom. They can attract a certain amount of small business, but nothing major. Kids go away to college and settle in towns that are bigger or smaller or larger cities. There are a few that are either more unskilled or don't mind low incomes. That wasn't me.
Seems maybe the remote worker who wants to be in a smaller town, might try one. So that might add some population to the base.
Our small town of 2,000 people with another 2,000 living around the town in country suburbs, farms and ranches, is slowly growing. It would grow faster, if they were building enough houses. A home goes on the market for sale, and it is sold almost immediately. Median household income is only $600 under the national average, but with no sales tax, savings in sales taxes more than makes up for the slightly lower median income. 50 to 70 miles to towns of any real size.
Homes appreciating 10% to 12.5% per year, and never had the big price crash they had in so many metro areas a few years ago. Very low property taxes. A $400,000 home has less than $3,000,000 property taxes. Real good schools. Newer hospital and medical center, part of an award winning medical system and one of only 7 medical systems that are associated with the Mayo Clinic.
No bad areas, or unsafe areas locally, and no old run down homes. Some contractors have bought up any older slightly run down old home, and completely rehabbed them and turned them into rentals. Median home price is 60% higher than national median home price.
Live in an area where farming was/is the major employment factor, and the towns are dying. Other areas, the small towns are prospering as they are in our part of the country.
"Boring" is in the eye of the beholder - some people want nothing going on.
Then I asked what places do they consider not boring, and those end up being places with lots of traffic and crime. So I don't know what their expectations are for something that is not "boring". If what identifies a town as not boring to some people is the increase in the number of bars, I don't consider that a desirable thing.
Our small town of 2,000 people with another 2,000 living around the town in country suburbs, farms and ranches, is slowly growing. It would grow faster, if they were building enough houses. A home goes on the market for sale, and it is sold almost immediately. Median household income is only $600 under the national average, but with no sales tax, savings in sales taxes more than makes up for the slightly lower median income. 50 to 70 miles to towns of any real size.
Homes appreciating 10% to 12.5% per year, and never had the big price crash they had in so many metro areas a few years ago. Very low property taxes. A $400,000 home has less than $3,000,000 property taxes. Real good schools. Newer hospital and medical center, part of an award winning medical system and one of only 7 medical systems that are associated with the Mayo Clinic.
No bad areas, or unsafe areas locally, and no old run down homes. Some contractors have bought up any older slightly run down old home, and completely rehabbed them and turned them into rentals. Median home price is 60% higher than national median home price.
Live in an area where farming was/is the major employment factor, and the towns are dying. Other areas, the small towns are prospering as they are in our part of the country.
That's a relief! I'd hate to pay $3,000,000 in property taxes on my $400K house!!!
Lack of hospitals and medical providers are another reason that small towns have trouble attracting R&D and manufacturing operations.
Many small towns and rural areas are losing their medical facilities. Sparse populations of Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured residents just can't support them.
Bingo. This is the amenity that really matters, long term. Good access to a hospital system and you will get families and keep your elderly. But when it’s more than fifteen or twenty minutes to a clinic or thirty to a solid major medical facility it starts to get more and more challenging as aging happens.
Some people will drive further, of course, and this doesn’t include specialists. But you have your most valuable bedroom communities and best opportunity to gentrify if those core services are in place very close. Retail and restaurants are important, but medical is absolutely critical. It also tends to be a white color magnet, even though there are plenty of blue color jobs attached as well.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
- some people want nothing going on. 
