A new ranking analyzes U.S. cities based on how "recession-proof" they are. The Livability.com study measures employment rate strength over time, affordability, and community amenities.
Mostly located in the Midwest, the top city is state capitol Lincoln, Neb., with a median home price of $182,000, a steady employment environment with positions in both state government, and at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As well, Lincoln is located in "the nation's 'Silicon Prairie,'" according to Realtor.com, with mentions on best startup ecosystems in the Midwest. Lincoln is followed by Wichita, Kan., with a median home price of $149,900, and a recently revitalized downtown area. The unemployment rate in Wichita is 3.5 percent, and cost of living comes in 14 percent below the national average.
According to a recent Duke University survey that polled more than 500 chief financial officers across the United States, almost half said a recession was likely by the end of 2019—and a whopping 82 percent predicted that it would get here by the end of 2020. Why the dark outlook? Put the blame on indicators like the stock market downturn, decreasing demand for American exports, and of course, a slumping housing market.