American Community Survey

California prison towns built their economies around incarceration until legislative changes and gubernatorial actions led to multiple prison closures. Towns like Susanville face economic instability due to the facility's scheduled closure, causing population decline and job losses.

The unauthorized U.S. immigrant population reached 15.8 million in 2024, driven by high southern border migration and Biden administration policies like humanitarian parole programs and the CBP One app. The report attributes growth to post-pandemic economic recovery and displacement in the Americas, with Central and South American migrants now comprising a larger share than Mexicans.

The typical New Yorker is a 30-something earning $80,000–$86,000 annually but facing high rent burdens. Median age is 38, with healthcare/education as top employment sectors, and 41% of residents living in non-family households. New York City's median household income exceeds the national average, but living costs remain exceptionally high.

College students are shifting away from AI-exposed majors like computer science and into fields like healthcare and engineering, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis. The study found enrollment drops in high-displacement-risk majors and surges in lower-risk ones, with AI automation cutting 11,000 U.S. jobs monthly and disproportionately affecting Gen Z graduates.

New York City commuters use subways, buses, and cars, with longer commutes affecting workers in distant neighborhoods. Data from the 2024 American Community Survey shows lower-paid workers face the longest commutes, impacting productivity and health. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has prioritized improving bus speeds to address these challenges.