Topping the nation in population growth for the fourth consecutive year, Phoenix added more new people than any other city in 2019 compared to the 2018 population estimates. The U.S. Census Bureau 2019 estimates rank Phoenix on top with a gain of 26,317 new residents, bringing its estimated population to 1,680,992.
The population growth still pegs Phoenix’s as the fifth most-populous U.S. city. Metro area 2019 population estimates pushed the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro past Boston-Cambridge-Newton in the position as the tenth most populous American metro area.
The 2019 numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show the continuing population trend towards moving west and south. The most important number from the bureau will be the 2020 Decennial Census count that is currently underway.
Challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic social distancing restrictions, an accurate 2020 population count is crucial for a fast-growing city like Phoenix. The population numbers generated by every household responding affect congressional representation, federal funding allocation, and even the amount spent by national companies advertising on local media.
New York City and Chicago lost population in the 2019 Census estimates. New York lost over 53,000 people and Chicago nearly 7,500. Los Angeles barely gained 2,000 people and Houston almost added 1,700 new people. San Francisco and Indianapolis both dropped out of the top 15 most-populous U.S. cities.
Migration to cities across the country was less in 2019, with an average of 57 people choosing the city of Phoenix as their new home every day, about half the 92 per day 2019 average.
Phoenix also topped the nation in its ten-year population growth, gaining 234,301 new residents since the 2010 Decennial Census. Houston was second, gaining 224,751. In comparison, the most populous city, New York, gained almost 162,000 people over ten years but has lost population for the last two years. Los Angeles gained over 186,000 over the decade but lost 11,000 in 2019 compared to 2018, more population lost than was gained between 2017 and 2018.
Mesa crossed a major threshold over the past ten years, increasing its population across the 500,000 threshold and gaining 77,920 new residents since 2010. Mesa is the 35th most-populous U.S. city in 2019, passing Atlanta, Miami and Sacramento.
Phoenix’s growth is reflective of the Valley. The city of Buckeye was second in the nation for Census percent population growth, up 56.6 percent since 2010. The only other Arizona city in the top 15 is 14th-ranked Goodyear, with a 33.1 percent population growth rate over the last ten years. Every single city among the top 15 fastest growing in the U.S. is in the South or West.
Over a ten-year trend, Detroit, Baltimore and St. Louis had the largest estimated population declines since 2010. Five of the 15 major U.S. cities with population declines were in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The rest were in the Midwest and Northeast.
Phoenix elected officials and city staff continually stress the importance of an accurate 2020 census count. As the fastest growing American city, Phoenix must continue to build on this success to sustain our economic growth. Completing the 2020 Census form is an easy way Phoenix households can be a big part of a complete population count. Phoenix officials stress that this is vitally important to the city’s future. The 2020 Census forms can be safely and securely filled out online. More information is available at iCount2020.info or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
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