John Rebchook is a former Rocky Mountain News reporter with more than 30 years of experience in writing and communications... While the Denver metropolitan statistical area showed the smallest decline at 4.9 percent in April from April 2008, the area still trails the overall appreciation of the 20 cities tracked in the index since January 2000.
Denver has gained 22.17 percent since 2000, which is 43.4 percent below the 39.18 percent overall increase for the 20 metropolitan areas. Nine of the metropolitan areas have gained less, and 10 have gained more. Those gaining less are Atlanta, 5.36 percent; Charlotte, N.C., 18.69 percent; Cleveland, down 1.93 percent; Dallas, 14.39 percent; Detroit, down 30.98 percent; Las Vegas, 12.39 percent; Minneapolis, 8.63 percent; Phoenix, 4.45 percent; and San Francisco, 18.46 percent.
Those faring better over the long term: Boston, 46.45 percent; Chicago, 22.3 percent; Los Angeles, 59.37 percent; Miami, 45.77 percent; New York, 70.33 percent; Portland, 46.85 percent; San Diego, 44.43 percent; Seattle, 49.38 percent; Tampa, 40.41 percent; and Washington , D.C. 67.3 percent.
