Detroit’s Comeback Story Is Overblown

Detroit is on the upswing, but critical issues such as poverty, unemployment, income disparities, and subpar property values remain.

While many media outlets and real estate experts have argued that Detroit is making a comeback after years of worsening urban blight and population decline, CityLab reports that the city’s recovery is uneven.

Real estate prices remain below $40,000, jobs are being taken by people coming from outside of the city, and the school system continues to crumble.

Overall, citywide data suggest Detroit is continuing to experience decline that makes it worse off than it was in 2000 or even 2010 in the depths of the national recession. Population, employment and incomes continue to decrease, while vacancies and poverty have increased.

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