A Tale of 2000 Cities

Housing is a major engine of the US economy. It is often a family’s single biggest asset and its single biggest expense. Because of this, housing provides an incredibly powerful lens through which to assess the state of American communities. A large proportion of housing wealth is currently concentrated in a relatively small proportion of America’s cities and towns. Moreover, approximately 50 percent of American communities are struggling after the Great Recession. In addition to an overview of housing trends, this report examines the steps government and business leaders can take to strengthen those areas that need help.