Forbes Lists Buffalo, NY with Fastest-Dying Cities

Forbes has listed Buffalo, NY as one of the Fastest-Dying Cities in the U.S. Other cities making the fast-dying list include: Cleveland, Dayton, Canton and Youngstown, Ohio; Flint and Detroit, Mich., Springfield, Mass.; Charleston, W. Va.; and Scranton, Pa.

On the Forbes website, it said "Buffalo has long been synonymous with city-in-decline. In the early 1900s, Buffalo was one of America's 10 largest cities, a burgeoning industrial center. It's been on decline ever since, despite a location that takes advantage of trade with Canada. Buffalo is home to M&T Bank and the Delaware North Companies--one of the major operators of stores in airports."

Of course The Buffalo News paper has it's own spin on things, and believes that things are on the upswing. "..Buffalo’s unflattering statistics included a population loss of nearly 42,000 since 2000, an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent (compared to national average of 4.3 percent) and a gross domestic product of 1.9 percent ...However, U. S. Census Bureau estimates being released today show the young adult population in all of Erie County is actually increasing...."

Rochester, NY is about 75 miles from Buffalo. There is a saying - "As Buffalo goes, so goes Rochester." I hope not! Unfortunately Rochester has had it's problems too. Rochester has been tightening it's belt. Factories especially have been downsizing. Unemployment here is 5.4% the same as Syracuse, NY. Our population growth is -5.3%. Although things aren't good, we have a younger population.

Mayor Duffy came up with a hair brained idea to solve Rochester's decreasing population. He said that if you worked in the city of Rochester, maybe you should have to live in Rochester. Fortunately his idea was shot down quickly.

Rochester does have it's pluses. Our cost of living is low, and housing is low. In fact Rochester has not been effected as much by the housing slump, as other cities have.

Do you want to know how your city would compare with Buffalo, or any other city? Click here for a cool comparison tool.