Raleigh-Cary ranked #10 in the country for reducing sprawl from the years 2000-2010, according to a recent study by Thomas Laidley of NYU. Reducing sprawl is good news for a fast growing area like ours!
This study is attempting to measure the sprawl of cities using aerial images and census data to estimate sprawl by examining population density per mile. Laidley then created an index of the 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States. He examined which cities were reducing sprawl vs. cities increasing in sprawl. The study mentioned that “For every 10 percent increase in sprawl, there is an approximately 5.7 percent increase in per capita carbon emissions, a 9.6 percent increase in per capita hazardous pollution, and a 4.1 percent and 2.9 percent reduction in the owner and renter housing affordability index, respectively.”
Overall the nation increased it’s sprawl over the decade but the Raleigh-Cary area was able to successfully reduce sprawl. Here is a list of the other cities that made the top 10 in reduction (percentage of reduction in parentheses):
1. Honolulu, Hawaii (-7.01%)
2. Salem, Oregon (-5.49%)
3. Santa Barbara, California (-5.26%)
4. Portland, Oregon (-4.37%)
5. Seattle, Washington (-3.89%)
6. Tallahassee, Florida (3.84%)
7. Colorado Springs, Colorado (-2.98%)
8. Riverside, California (-2.83%)
9. McAllen, Texas (-2.69%)
10. Raleigh-Cary (-2.53%)