The Land Value in This City Is Plummeting Due to Damaging Hurricanes

Published: September 26, 2024 by Dan Myers

Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature. Whipped into a frenzy by warm ocean waters, they unleash devastating torrents of destruction upon any landmass that’s in their path with blind fury. Some cities, however, have felt that wrath more than others. And with hurricane season underway, let’s take a trip down a memory lane we hope is never repeated.

There are a handful of reasons why some cities are more susceptible to hurricanes than others, and some are fairly obvious. The Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea are known as hurricane breeding grounds, so cities along coastlines that face those bodies of water are more likely to see hurricanes. Cities within the path of some prevailing wind patterns, like the trade winds and jet stream, are also more susceptible, as are ones with frequent tropical wave activity. Cities in low-lying areas or with significant portions below sea level are more vulnerable to the storm surge and flooding caused by hurricanes, and ones on barrier islands can also take the brunt of a storm’s force.

To determine the cities with the most damaging hurricanes, 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 total historic loss ratio due to hurricanes from 1996 to 2019. Total historic loss ratio is the combined sum of the percentage of agriculture value lost due to hurricanes from 1996 to 2019 and the percentage of building value lost due to hurricanes from 1996 to 2019. Data was aggregated from the census tract level to the place level using boundary definitions for 2023 from the U.S. Census Bureau. Supplemental data on population is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Only cities with at least 25,000 residents were considered.

So read on to learn which American cities have been the most battered by hurricanes. And if you think that you’re in the clear just because you don’t live near the coast, these hurricanes made it up to 500 miles inland.

50. Norwalk, CT

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +2.8%
Total population: 91,050

49. South Portland, ME

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +4.8%
Total population: 26,656

48. Norwich, CT

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +0.4%
Total population: 40,054

47. Waterbury, CT

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +4.8%
Total population: 114,480

46. Wilson, NC

Curving boardwalk over Lake Wilson in North Carolina

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -3.0%
Total population: 47,767

45. Pharr, TX

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 3.9%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.0%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +3.5%
Total population: 79,434

44. Palm Coast, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.5%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +10.6%
Total population: 91,082

43. Salisbury, MD

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.5%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +1.8%
Total population: 32,960

42. Ormond Beach, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.5%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +4.6%
Total population: 43,127

41. Victoria, TX

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.0%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.4%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -1.6%
Total population: 65,481

40. Lafayette, LA

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.3%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.1%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -3.8%
Total population: 121,706

39. Summerville, SC

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.3%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.1%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +3.5%
Total population: 50,839

38. Lake Charles, LA

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.1%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.4%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +9.6%
Total population: 82,430

37. Huntsville, TX

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 5.1%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.6%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +13.4%
Total population: 46,202

36. Goose Creek, SC

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.5%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +11.7%
Total population: 45,858

35. Enterprise, AL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 5.1%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 0.6%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +2.7%
Total population: 28,513

34. New Bern, NC

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.3%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.5%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +5.8%
Total population: 31,373

33. Beaumont, TX

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -3.3%
Total population: 114,573

32. New Iberia, LA

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -6.4%
Total population: 28,363

31. Mount Pleasant, SC

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +12.7%
Total population: 90,945

30. South Bradenton, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +2.1%
Total population: 25,471

29. Pooler, GA

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +16.8%
Total population: 26,264

28. Pensacola, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +2.6%
Total population: 54,059

27. Brownsville, TX

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +2.7%
Total population: 186,999

26. Golden Gate, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: -1.5%
Total population: 29,400

25. Fort Pierce, FL

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +6.6%
Total population: 47,153

24. Gulfport, MS

Agriculture value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 4.6%
Building value lost to hurricanes, 1996-2019: 1.2%
Population change, 2017 to 2023: +1.7%
Total population: 72,524

23. Palm City, FL

Research, probing, monitoring hurricane. Satellite above the Earth makes measurements of the weather parameters. Elements of this image furnished by NASA