A. Charlotte
B. Durham
C. Lenoir
D. Greensboro
Answer:
D. This article in Forbes says it’s Greensboro, which landed at No. 4 on its list of America’s Emptiest Cities.
The ranking is based on fourth-quarter info from the Census Bureau, looking at rental and homeowner vacancies in the nation’s 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA ranks No. 15, tied with Cincinnati.
Not surprisingly, Detroit ranks No. 2. But No. 1 this year is Las Vegas, the recently booming Western gambling mecca.
And Asheboro, home of the N.C. Zoo (see zoo lions depicted at right), hit Forbes’ list of the Fastest-Dying Towns, landing at No. 4, behind Kokomo, Ind. That measure looked at income growth, the rate of domestic in-migration, the change in poverty and the percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or higher for places 20,000 to 65,000 population. And there’s no stimulus money available for zoos. They’re among the things (swimming pools and aquariums are others) specifically ineligible for stimulus money. Geez.
But there’s hope for other N.C. cities. Look for Ken Lewis, now that his pay is limited to $500K, to be house hunting in the Capital City, City of Oaks, our very own Raleigh, which hit No. 2 on Forbes’ list of Best Cities to Live on $500,000.