12 states represented in this shortlist.
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Ranking
Large U.S. Cities Losing Population
Large cities in the launch dataset with the steepest population decline since the 2020 estimates base. Rankings are transparent research aids. Verify rent, wages, school programs, crime, commute, taxes, and neighborhood details before making a relocation decision.
Susanville, California is first under this page's stated ordering.
Median transparent recent-grad fit score across the displayed cities.
$919 median rent among covered rows.
How to use this shortlist
Large cities in the launch dataset with the steepest population decline since the 2020 estimates base. The order is a research screen, not a promise that the first city fits every household. Open a city profile, run the affordability calculator, and verify current housing, salary, neighborhood safety, school boundaries, taxes, insurance, and commute details before deciding.
| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susanville, California | 2025 population #2702 | 53/100 | $902 | $61,641 | 12,816 | 9.3% | -23.33% | cautious | rent-friendly |
| Town of Pecos, Texas | 2025 population #3131 | 52/100 | $988 | $60,943 | 10,386 | 2.6% | -19.95% | competitive | rent watch |
| Taft, California | 2025 population #4072 | 53/100 | $1,069 | $72,772 | 6,995 | 6.1% | -18.30% | cautious | rent-friendly |
| McRae-Helena, Georgia | 2025 population #4670 | 56/100 | $713 | $43,618 | 5,443 | 1.8% | -18.14% | competitive | rent watch |
| Blythe, California | 2025 population #2400 | 51/100 | $938 | $56,625 | 15,042 | 11.7% | -17.88% | cautious | rent watch |
| Big Spring, Texas | 2025 population #1779 | 51/100 | $1,050 | $67,581 | 22,290 | 6.6% | -15.31% | competitive | rent watch |
| Cameron, Missouri | 2025 population #3952 | 55/100 | $1,063 | $61,791 | 7,341 | 5.4% | -13.88% | competitive | rent watch |
| Helena-West Helena, Arkansas | 2025 population #3684 | 51/100 | $771 | $36,019 | 8,216 | 17.7% | -13.77% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Tallulah, Louisiana | 2025 population #4643 | 49/100 | $650 | $33,419 | 5,517 | 7.1% | -12.41% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government, Georgia | 2025 population #3610 | 56/100 | $1,348 | $61,042 | 8,465 | 9.1% | -11.53% | competitive | rent stretched |
| California City, California | 2025 population #2633 | 44/100 | $1,300 | $60,113 | 13,300 | 18.7% | -11.16% | cautious | rent stretched |
| Greenville, Mississippi | 2025 population #1525 | 51/100 | $872 | $40,083 | 26,530 | 6.7% | -10.64% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Bexley, Ohio | 2025 population #2764 | 65/100 | $1,268 | $157,841 | 12,452 | 2.5% | -10.58% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Selma, Alabama | 2025 population #2305 | 51/100 | $713 | $33,197 | 16,077 | 14.0% | -10.53% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Crescent City, California | 2025 population #4419 | 35/100 | $1,192 | $35,540 | 6,002 | 8.4% | -10.14% | cautious | high rent burden |
| Malibu, California | 2025 population #3305 | 53/100 | $3,501 | $194,421 | 9,574 | 6.7% | -10.13% | cautious | rent watch |
| Calipatria, California | 2025 population #4414 | 51/100 | $919 | $53,299 | 6,012 | 7.3% | -9.74% | cautious | rent watch |
| Cleveland, Mississippi | 2025 population #3185 | 54/100 | $943 | $44,074 | 10,138 | 7.9% | -9.56% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Ogdensburg, New York | 2025 population #3434 | 55/100 | $778 | $61,824 | 9,123 | 8.4% | -9.48% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Indianola, Mississippi | 2025 population #3558 | 54/100 | $720 | $41,708 | 8,637 | 13.1% | -8.94% | competitive | rent watch |
| Stuttgart, Arkansas | 2025 population #3889 | 54/100 | $872 | $49,399 | 7,525 | 10.5% | -8.90% | competitive | rent watch |
| Blytheville, Arkansas | 2025 population #2800 | 54/100 | $855 | $47,865 | 12,227 | 9.2% | -8.85% | competitive | rent watch |
| Gallup, New Mexico | 2025 population #1948 | 51/100 | $927 | $58,303 | 19,969 | 5.7% | -8.82% | competitive | rent watch |
| Greenwood, Mississippi | 2025 population #2608 | 51/100 | $678 | $35,473 | 13,429 | 7.8% | -8.80% | competitive | rent watch |
| Ionia, Michigan | 2025 population #2802 | 52/100 | $852 | $63,978 | 12,208 | 1.9% | -8.67% | competitive | rent-friendly |