Finding Exurbia: America’s Fast-Growing Communities at the Metropolitan Fringe

Abstract

Part of the Living Cities Census Series, this publication is a brief for the Brookings Institution in the Cities and Suburbs section. The publication examines the nature, extent and geographical variety of Exurbs that are situated in large metropolitan areas in the United States. The publication examines demographic and economic data from 1990 to 2005 and defines exurbs as communities located on the urban fringe that have at least 20 percent of their workers commuting to jobs in an urbanized area, exhibit low housing density, and have relatively high population growth. Detailed maps and tables are also provided.