Orlando experienced the largest decrease in its violent crime rate in a new study by WalletHub called 2014’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities.
To evaluate the progress of local cities in their economic growth, WalletHub compared the 150 largest U.S. cities to identify those that have experienced the most and least improvement since the recession. Eighteen key metrics — from the inflow of college-educated workers and number of new businesses to unemployment rates and home price appreciation — were examined.
At the top of the list for most recession-recovered cities was Laredo, Texas; followed by Irving, Texas; Fayetteville, N.C.; Denver; and Dallas. Orlando ranked No. 62.
Of the least recession-recovered cities, San Bernardino, Calif., was at the bottom. Taking the four other places before San Bernardino were Detroit; Modesto, Calif.; Newark, N.J.; and Stockton, Calif. Florida’s least recession-recovered city was Cape Coral, coming in at No. 145.
Other findings from the study:
- Mobile, Ala., experienced the largest increase in its unemployment rate, at 4 percent. Toledo, Ohio experienced the largest decrease, at 1 percent.
- Cape Coral, Fla., experienced the largest increase in its poverty rate, at 8 percent. El Paso, Texas, experienced the largest decrease, at 5 percent.
- New Orleans registered the highest home price appreciation, at 64 percent. Detroit registered the highest home price depreciation, with a loss of 65 percent.
- Raleigh, N.C., experienced the highest population growth rate, at 21 percent. Detroit experienced the highest decline, at 16 percent.
- Orlando experienced the largest decrease in its violent crime rate, at 1 percent. Springfield, Mo., experienced the largest increase, at 0.3 percent.
- Corpus Christi, Texas, experienced the largest increase in GDP, at 30 percent. Cape Coral, Fla., experienced the largest decrease, at 6 percent.
