5. Chicago, IL
Major Industries: Manufacturing and food processing
Annual Growth Rate: 0.27%*
If you want deep-dish pizza and delicious hot dogs, the Windy City is the place to be. Home to the Chicago Cubs and the iconic silver Bean statue, as well as the headquarters to major companies from Boeing to McDonald’s, the third-largest city in America can compete with cities on either coast any day. But despite the attractions, Chicago has been losing residents for years now, shrinking by the thousands on a yearly basis.
IRS data shows that many residents of the city are moving to states where taxes are lower. Many Chicagoans are stuck paying costly income taxes, which has caused people to look for more affordable housing options elsewhere. The cold climate also takes a toll on its residents, which could be another reason why people aren’t staying in Chi-town.
While Chicago boasts an intriguing art scene that includes underground music, cinema and craft artisanry, the decline in above-the-line jobs over the years has made the city increasingly difficult to live in. Also: Chicago is notoriously freezing!