Choice C is the best answer. The author states that "demographic inversion is not a proxy for population growth" (lines 32-33,"demographic... growth"). In other words, demographic inversion is distinct from population growth. The author also notes that demographic inversion is evident in many American cities, as it "can occur in cities that are growing, those whose numbers are flat, and even in those undergoing a modest decline in size" (lines 33-35,"it can ... in size").
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not summarize the first paragraph.