Cities Most Hurt by Economic Meltdown

While the financial meltdown is likely to be felt to some extent in every community in America, some towns are more vulnerable than others. If the local economy where you live is based heavily on finance, real estate, insurance or leasing, the upheaval could be particularly severe.

BusinessWeek teamed up with PolicyMap.com (an online data and demographics site) to determine which communities have the most potential exposure. In many cases, suburbs of major financial centers seem destined to take some of the biggest hits.

Here, according to BusinessWeek, are the Top 10:

1. Darien, Conn.
Share population in finance and real estate: 27.23%
Nearest large city: New York
Population: 20,666
Median salary: $168,687

2. Bloomington, Ill.
Share population in finance and real estate: 26.31%
Nearest large city: Chicago
Population: 70,395
Median salary: $54,971

3. Hoboken, N.J.
Share population in finance and real estate: 23.33%
Nearest large city: New York
Population: 40,002
Median salary: $81,356

4. West Des Moines, Iowa
Share population in finance and real estate: 22.15%
Nearest large city: Des Moines
Population: 54,627
Median salary: $61,303

5. Garden City, N.Y.
Share population in finance and real estate: 20.22%
Nearest large city: New York
Population: 21,671
Median salary: $121,831

6. Summit, N.J.
Share population in finance and real estate: 19.74%
Nearest large city: New York
Population: 20,618
Median salary: $111,497

7. Westport, Conn.
Share population in finance and real estate: 19.39%
Nearest large city: New York
Population: 26,822
Median salary: $137,133

8. University Park, Tex.
Share population in finance and real estate: 18.83%
Nearest large city: Dallas
Population: 24,582
Median salary: $110,976

9. Wethersfield, Conn.
Share population in finance and real estate: 18.73%
Nearest large city: Hartford
Population: 26,146
Median salary: $63,359

10. Mountain Brook, Ala.
Share population in finance and real estate: 18.66%
Nearest large city: Birmingham
Population: 20,654
Median salary: $115,148

To see the rest of the list, and to read more about the subject, visit BusinessWeek.com.

Related lists:

• Top Corporate Bankruptcies
• Biggest Corporate Bailouts
• ‘Emergency Economic Stabilization Act’ Highlights
• Cities With Least Personal Debt
• Cities With Most Personal Debt