Introduction: Deepblocks’ Early-Stage Analysis Pipeline
We’re excited to share two new AI-generated reports from our Deepblocks AI analysis pipeline, which aims to provide real-time real estate insights for every city in the United States—all at once. These two articles focus on opposite ends of the population spectrum in Florida:
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Miami Beach: The Florida city with the most significant population decline in the last decade.
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Jacksonville: The city that currently holds the highest population in the state.
Links to the full articles (AI-generated):
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Miami Beach in 2022: City with the most significant population decline in Florida
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Jacksonville in 2022: City with the highest population in Florida
(Please note these articles are still in an early stage, and we welcome your feedback.)
Miami Beach: A Surprising Population Decline
According to our AI-generated analysis, Miami Beach has seen its population drop from a peak of 92,319 in 2017 to 80,027 in 2022—a 13.3% decrease. Over a 12-year span starting in 2010, the city’s overall population dropped by about 9.2%.
What’s Driving the Decline?
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Changing Housing Occupancy: Owner-occupied housing decreased from 41.54% in 2015 to 35.46% in 2021, while renter-occupied units rose.
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Rising Rents: Median rent increased from $1,077 in 2013 to $1,522 by 2021, potentially pushing out some longtime residents.
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Employment Challenges: The employment-to-population ratio fell from 0.674 in 2018 to 0.613 in 2021, indicating fewer job opportunities relative to the population.
Beyond these numbers, demographic shifts were notable: the city’s Hispanic population dropped from 61.09% in 2019 to 46.23% in 2022, while the white non-Hispanic population rose from 30.28% to 41.99%. This underlines how population declines don’t impact all groups equally.
Jacksonville: Florida’s Most Populous City
Meanwhile, Jacksonville has maintained a steady upward trajectory, reaching a population of 971,315 in 2022. That’s an 18% increase from 823,316 in 2010—making Jacksonville the highest-populated city in Florida.
What Fuels Jacksonville’s Growth?
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Economic Opportunities: Median income in Jacksonville soared from $47,424 in 2013 to $69,309 in 2022—a substantial jump of 46%.
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Housing Affordability: Though home prices have risen (from $96,237 in 2000 to $293,969 in 2022), Jacksonville remains more affordable than other major Florida cities.
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Population Density Increase: Density increased from 1,127 people per square mile in 2013 to 1,299 in 2022, suggesting more efficient use of land and resources.
Jacksonville’s diverse demographic mix—including 29.3% Black and 12% Hispanic in 2022—also adds to the city’s appeal, attracting a wide range of new residents.
Correlation ≠ Causation
It’s tempting to link Miami Beach’s population loss directly to Jacksonville’s growth—but that doesn’t necessarily mean Miamians are packing up and moving to Jacksonville. Population trends can be shaped by many factors—economic shifts, housing markets, local policies, cultural changes—and each city evolves independently. So while Miami Beach’s decline and Jacksonville’s climb are both noteworthy, one isn’t automatically fueling the other.
Final Thoughts: Early Insights from Deepblocks
These two AI-generated reports are part of Deepblocks’ broader mission: to deliver real estate intelligence across the U.S. in near real-time. By monitoring population data, housing occupancy, median incomes, and zoning, we aim to provide a nuanced picture of urban development trends—from the beaches of Miami to the riverbanks of Jacksonville.
As we refine our pipeline, expect deeper insights and more cities added to our expanding coverage. In the meantime, Miami Beach’s decline and Jacksonville’s boom offer a compelling snapshot of the diverse forces shaping Florida’s urban landscape.
What do you think? Is Miami Beach facing a long-term population shift, or could it rebound? Will Jacksonville keep growing at its current pace? We look forward to hearing your thoughts!
