A new study revealed that five of 20 most improved cities in the United States were found in a highly Latino and Hispanic populated state, California.

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California is home to over 15.5 million Hispanics and Latinos in the country, according to a data from Statista.

The Office of Management and Budget describes Latinos and Hispanics as a person of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or coming from the Spanish culture, regardless of race.

Latinos and Hispanics play a very important role in California. No wonder that five cities out of the 20 most improved cities in the U.S. are found in California. 

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) study used the data from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey ranked the most improved-cities in the country during a five-year period that ended in 2017.

Out of 20 cities in the U.S., five of which are from California and these are:

  • San Francisco
  • Denver
  • Boston
  • Miami-Fort Lauderdale 
  • New Orleans

Other cities in California included in the list are:

  • San Jose- Rank 8
  • Sacramento- Rank 10
  • San Diego- Rank 14
  • Los Angeles- Rank 15

Meanwhile, the country's capital, Washington, D.C., ranks as the most improved city in the previous study conducted. However, the new study revealed that Washington, D.C. dropped to number 13.

Authors of the study from NCRC found that many cities improved, but many were also displaced, particularly in the low-income neighborhoods and many major cities due to lack of investment. 

Researchers of the study also revealed that 20 metropolitan cities or 954 neighborhoods have improved in the past few years.

Karen Chapple, faculty director of the Urban Displacement Project at the University of California, Berkeley said coastal cities are most of the time showing improvements. She also said that she's not surprised by the recent study.

The study also showed that cities experiencing rapid economic and population growth are very rare. It also added that a lack of investment and poverty is more common in low or moderate-income communities.

These communities are supposed to experience growth in investment due to the economic needs of people, according to an article published in MSN News.

However, despite the economic growth of 20 cities in the country, the Latino and African-America communities remained the hardest-hit. 

Even though Latinos and Hispanics are the hardest hit in the country, the U.S. Census Bureau noted that there are more Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses in the U.S., according to a report by Latin Post.

Here is the full list of 20 Most Improved Cities in the U.S.:

  • San Francisco-Oakland
  • Denver
  • Boston
  • Miami-Fort Lauderdale
  • New Orleans
  • Austin, Texas
  • New York City
  • San Jose, Calif.
  • Phoenix
  • Sacramento, Calif.
  • Minneapolis
  • Indianapolis
  • Washington, D.C.
  • San Diego
  • Los Angeles
  • Baltimore
  • Chicago
  • Philadelphia
  • Detroit
  • Dallas 

Meanwhile, these cities also ranked low on the affordability of housing and loans from non-profit organizations to buy and convert buildings. 

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