Which U.S. Cities Are Sinking The Most? ⏬

What We're Showing

The average vertical land movement within 28 of the largest U.S. cities from 2015 to 2021, measured in milimeters per year.

Data comes from a 2025 Nature Cities study titled "Land subsidence risk to infrastructure in US metropolises" by Ohenhen, Zhai, Lucy, et al.

Big Cities are Sinking

25 of the 28 largest U.S. metropolises studied are sinking each year.

Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth are experiencing the most dramatic land subsidence–or sinking of land.

Land subsidence can cause increased flood risks and structural damage, which is even more pronounced in urban centers.

Groundwater extraction is the main driver of the sinking in most locations, according to the study.

Other factors include the loading effect of urban development, oil and gas extraction, and glacial isostatic adjustment–the slow rise or fall of land caused by the melting of massive ice sheets.