[OC] Postpandemische Bevölkerungswachstumstrends nach US-Metrogebiet (2022-> 2024)

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Graphic by me, created in Excel.

All data from US Census here: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html

I’ve created similar graphics in the past, but usually from 2020-2024. This is not the best time frame as it combines the abnormal covid years with post-pandemic movement.

This time frame (2022-2024) shows the most current and ongoing population trends of the last 2 years.

I also wanted to better categorize the cities into broad cultural regions vs the arbitrary geographic census regions.

Interesting stats that are often divorced by what many Reddit users claim. Go on any board related to moving or where specifically Americans talk about their lives, and many are saying cities like Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland are popping off, tons of people moving there, great places to live now, etc.

Now they have definitely gotten better in the last 10 years so there is truth, but the midwest and Northeast are not really growing anymore. In the South east it has popped off so much that house prices and property tax rates have exploded since COVID. They are stabilizing now, but the main driver for people moving (economic opportunity) has really gone up in the south along with the wealth it brought compared to even the 2000s.

It’s interesting how the city of Pittsburgh is growing despite the metro taking a little population loss. I think the trend of the 20th century might be starting to reverse based on climate change, COL, and younger people’s desires for more diverse, accessible, and urban communities. The suburban ponzi scheme is clearly up for many of our „middle“ suburbs (no hate on Penn Hills but that’s a great example), whereas the city is starting to see growth, development, and revitalization in places like Allentown, Uptown, and Garfield.

This is a nice graph. I would be interested to see it using only like 18-24 year olds (or a similar age range) to get a sense of where younger people at the start of their journey are choosing to settle.

I wonder if millenials/genX are all about their own individual „experiences“, so they move out West where its sunny/outdoorsy and they’re like completely liberated away from the control structures back home, and the old silent/boomers of the MidWest/NorthEast are moving where its warm/dying off. So on a total population basis a place like PGH would show stagnation/decline. But for a fresh young person, perhaps cost of living, everyday utility, and a less, shall we say, individualistic environment might be more enticing (so a place like PGH might be more enticing).

No wonder I-4 has gone from bad to abysmal since 2020. What used to take 1.5 hours from Tampa to Orland for the last 30 years is now: 1.5 hours to ???? at any time of day

Ugh. As someone who grew up near Orlando, this new wave of people is the absolute worst. They’re trying to escape the crappy conditions of their home town, but just end up dragging it all down here.