The last five years: Population growth in the Twin Cities region since 2010

Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016

The latest MetroStat report from Council research staff describes how the region's population has changed, where growth has occurred in the region, and how our population growth compares with other metro areas.

How has the Twin Cities region's population changed since 2010?

The Twin Cities region’s population now exceeds 3 million. The region has added almost 156,000 people since 2010, a 5.5% increase. New housing development has not kept pace with new residents, however.

The 2015 population estimates confirm our region is on track for the 2020 forecast.

Where has population growth occurred in the region since 2010?

Nearly one-third of the region’s overall population growth between 2010 and 2015 occurred in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Suburban Edge communities such as Blaine and Woodbury also grew considerably since 2010, each with population growth rates over 8%.

How does our population growth compare with other metro areas?

Overall, the U.S. population as a whole increased by about 4% between 2010 and 2015. Much of this growth occurred in large metropolitan areas. Our 16-county Twin Cities metro grew more quickly than New York and Chicago but less quickly than peer regions like Denver, Portland, and Seattle.

More information

See the complete findings in the July 2016 MetroStats report, "The Last Five Years: Population Growth in the Twin Cities region since 2010 (PDF).

Posted In: Communities, Housing, Planning

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