2015’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities

From Wallet Hub September 14, 2015

With Hillview, Ky., filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in late August, bringing the national total of municipal bankruptcies to 14 since 2008, the personal finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities.

To measure the progress of local economies since the financial crisis and how much work remains to be done in the name of recovery, WalletHub compared the 150 largest U.S. cities across 17 key economic indicators. Our data set ranges from the inflow of college-educated workers to the number of new businesses to home-price appreciation.

Honolulu Ranks 59th Overall

• 43rd for "Employment & Earning Opportunities"
• 91st for "Economic Environment"

Key Stats

• Grand Rapids, Mich., experienced the largest decrease (2%) in its unemployment rate, whereas Fresno, Calif., experienced the largest increase (5%).
• Brownsville, Texas, experienced the largest decrease (6%) in its poverty rate, whereas Detroit experienced the largest increase (9%).
• New Orleans registered the highest home-price appreciation, at 84%, whereas Detroit registered the highest depreciation, at 61%.
• Raleigh, N.C., experienced the highest population growth rate, at 24%, whereas Detroit experienced the highest decline, at 17%.
• Orlando, Fla., experienced the largest decrease in its violent-crime rate, at 1%, whereas Springfield, Mo., experienced the largest increase, at 0.5%.
• Portland, Ore., experienced the largest increase in GDP, at 36%, whereas Reno, Nev., experienced the largest decrease, at 10%.

For the full report and to see where your city ranks, please visit: http://wallethub.com/edu/most-least-recession-recovered-cities/5219/