Global temperatures are on the rise and the scientific consensus attributes a significant portion of this warming to man-made climate change. The years between 2015 and 2022 have witnessed eight of the warmest years ever recorded on a global scale according to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization. On top of that, widely echoed news stories recently warned us that July 2023 was the hottest month in a staggering 120,000 years.
Within the United States, rising temperatures have led to discussions about the resilience of local populations and the potential for residents to contemplate relocating to cooler regions. In an effort to understand if there is any truth to this, we conducted an analysis that considers temperature changes in cities experiencing rapid population growth, population shifts, and the trends in multifamily occupancy. This analysis aims to shed light on the complex interplay between climate, migration, and urban development.