The Coastal City Most Vulnerable to Rising Waters

Coastal areas have always been more subject to flooding than other regions but even inland areas are not immune. As climate change causes sea levels to rise, flooding, particularly from high tides is becoming more common. Where flooding was typically seen as a byproduct of storm surges coinciding with heavy rains, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), flooding now occurs even on sunny days and in the absence of storms. Certain areas are still at higher risk than others and this is the coastal city most vulnerable to rising waters.

FEMA put together the National Risk Index, an interactive map that illustrates which communities throughout the U.S. are most at risk for 18 natural hazards. Among those natural hazards is coastal flooding along with riverine flooding and tsunamis. Cities like Millville in New Jersey are lower on the index while cities like Merritt Island in Florida are significantly higher on the Index. This information is helpful in various industries, particularly to state, local, and federal governments. (Also read about the US cities with the highest hurricane risk.)

To determine the coastal city most vulnerable to rising waters, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on natural hazard risk for U.S. census tracts from the March 2023 FEMA National Risk Index dataset. Cities were ranked based on the average coastal flooding risk index score for all census tracts within their borders. Data was aggregated from the census tract level to the city level using spatial boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER/Line program.

Supplemental data on the total value of all owner-occupied homes and populations is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Only places with at least 25,000 residents were considered.

50. Millville, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 85.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.5%
Total population: 27,523

49. La Porte, TX

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 85.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.6%
Total population: 35,782

48. Myrtle Beach, SC

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 86.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +17.2%
Total population: 36,064

47. Channelview, TX

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 86.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.4%
Total population: 43,204

46. Dania Beach, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 86.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +0.6%
Total population: 31,700

45. Fruit Cove, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 86.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +10.9%
Total population: 35,333

44. Alameda, CA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 86.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $18.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -0.9%
Total population: 77,565

43. Norfolk, VA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $13.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -3.6%
Total population: 236,973

42. Salem, MA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.2%
Total population: 44,541

41. Juneau, AK

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -1.0%
Total population: 32,108

40. Gulfport, MS

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.7%
Total population: 72,524

39. Virginia Beach, VA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $48.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.7%
Total population: 457,900

38. Linden, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 87.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.0%
Total population: 43,478

37. Newport, RI

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 88.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.4%
Total population: 25,087

36. Hilton Head Island, SC

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 88.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $10.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -4.9%
Total population: 37,708

35. Lakeside, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 88.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: NA
Total population: 30,973

34. Bayonne, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 88.5/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.7%
Total population: 70,497

33. Marrero, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 88.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.8%
Total population: 32,003

32. Charleston, SC

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $21.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +14.3%
Total population: 149,960

31. Lake Jackson, TX

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +2.3%
Total population: 27,954

30. Tarpon Springs, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +2.7%
Total population: 25,355

29. Galveston, TX

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +7.2%
Total population: 53,265

28. Kenner, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.2%
Total population: 65,785

27. Sebastian, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 89.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.6%
Total population: 25,266

26. Terrytown, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $0.9 million
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +7.8%
Total population: 26,105

25. Annapolis, MD

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.0%
Total population: 40,719

24. Miami Beach, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $17.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -10.6%
Total population: 82,400

23. Long Beach, NY

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.2%
Total population: 34,734

22. Chelsea, MA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.6%
Total population: 39,890

21. New Smyrna Beach, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +21.3%
Total population: 30,449

20. Ormond Beach, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.5/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $5.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.6%
Total population: 43,127

19. Metairie, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $13.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -3.3%
Total population: 140,046

18. Mount Pleasant, SC

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 90.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $19.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.7%
Total population: 90,945

17. Kearny, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 91.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -3.1%
Total population: 41,157

16. Prairieville, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 91.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.0%
Total population: 34,215

15. New Orleans, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 91.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $30.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.0%
Total population: 380,408

14. Hampton, VA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 92.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $7.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +0.7%
Total population: 137,217

13. Key West, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 92.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.0%
Total population: 26,078

12. Milford City, CT

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 92.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -3.2%
Total population: 50,664

11. Hoboken, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 92.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.6%
Total population: 58,754

10. Rahway, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 93.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +0.8%
Total population: 29,664

9. Fleming Island, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 93.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +2.2%
Total population: 29,810

8. Portsmouth, VA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 93.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $5.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.9%
Total population: 97,384

7. Biloxi, MS

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 94.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.4%
Total population: 49,141

6. Gloucester, MA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 94.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $5.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -0.1%
Total population: 29,830

5. Carteret, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 94.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.7%
Total population: 25,161

4. Palm City, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 95.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.8%
Total population: 25,957

3. Laplace, LA

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 95.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +2.6%
Total population: 28,956

2. Merritt Island, FL

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 96.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -5.7%
Total population: 34,300

1. Atlantic City, NJ

FEMA coastal flooding risk index score: 99.5/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -1.5%
Total population: 38,487