Ohio Census 2020 Response Rates



The 2020 US Census is currently winding down, perhaps somewhat earlier than planned, but wrapping up nonetheless.
The accuracy of the Census relies heavily on enough people responding to the surveys. Because of the pandemic this year, the internet has played a bigger role in the response rates than normal, but there were still plenty of door to door workers doing surveys. How did Columbus, Central Ohio and other parts of the state do?

First, let’s look at Ohio counties. These numbers are through September 2nd.

Top 10 counties for Census Response
1. Medina County: 81.9%
2. Delaware County: 79.7%
3. Geauga County, Warren County: 78.7%
4. Union County: 78.0%
5. Lake County: 77.4%
6. Auglaize County: 76.9%
7. Wayne County: 76.8%
8. Greene County: 76.0%
9. Miami County: 75.9%
10. Fulton County: 75.2%

Bottom 10 Counties for Census Response
1. Harrison County: 55.5%
2. Morgan County: 57.7%
3. Vinton County: 57.9%
4. Pike County: 58.5%
5. Monroe County: 58.8%
6. Lawrence County: 59.3%
7. Scioto County: 59.4%
8. Meigs County: 59.6%
9. Adams County: 59.9%
10. Ashtabula County, Athens County: 60.8%

Most of the high-reporting counties were large metro counties, while most of the low ones were Appalachia. This may be related to access to the internet, which again, played a crucial role this year.

Here are the counties that anchor Ohio’s largest metros
Lucas County: 64.6%
Cuyahoga County: 65.5%
Franklin County: 66.7%
Hamilton County: 66.7%
Mahoning County: 67.4%
Montgomery County: 68.0%
Stark County: 74.3%

Columbus’ Franklin County was tied for 3rd worst.

Now let’s look at Central Ohio cities and towns.
Minerva Park: 88.6%
Worthington: 86.8%
Upper Arlington: 85.7%
Westerville: 83.2%
Dublin: 82.7%
Canal Winchester: 81.8%
Grandview Heights: 81.8%
Gahanna: 81.1%
New Albany: 81.1%
Bexley: 79.5%
Grove City: 78.9%
Groveport: 78.9%
Pataskala: 77.4%
Hilliard: 77.0%
Valleyview: 76.5%
Reynoldsburg: 75.3%
Obetz: 72.7%
Pickerington: 71.6%
Columbus: 62.1%
Whitehall: 58.5%

Generally, the more urban commmunities tended to do worse than the outer suburbs. This has implications on urban areas possibly being undercounted, though the response rates are generally similar to what they were in 2010, so that concern is probably overblown to some extent.

If your’e interested in taking a further look at Ohio’s and other states numbers, visit the following link, in which response rates are tracked all the way down to the Census Tract level: https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates/self-response.html



2019 City Population Estimates



2019 city population estimates

The Census has just released 2019 city population estimates. These estimates are good for July 1, 2019. Let’s take a look at how Columbus compares to other cities in Ohio.

Ohio Top 30 Largest Cities by Rank
Census 2010————————————–July 1, 2019
1. Columbus: 787,033————————1. Columbus: 898,553
2. Cleveland: 396,815————————2. Cleveland: 381,009
3. Cincinnati: 296,943——————-—–3. Cincinnati: 303,940
4. Toledo: 287,208———————-——4. Toledo: 272,779
5. Akron: 199,110————————-—–5. Akron: 197,597
6. Dayton: 141,527—————————-6. Dayton: 140,407
7. Parma: 81,601—————————––7. Parma: 78,103
8. Canton: 73,007———————–——-8. Canton: 70,447
9. Youngstown: 66,982————————9. Youngstown: 65,469
10. Lorain: 64,097——————–———10. Lorain: 63,855
11. Hamilton: 62,477——————–——11. Hamilton: 62,082
12. Springfield: 60,608————————12. Springfield: 58,877
13. Kettering: 56,163————————-–13. Kettering: 54,855
14. Elyria: 54,533—————————-—14. Elyria: 53,757
15. Lakewood: 52,131———————––15. Newark: 50,315
16. Cuyahoga Falls: 49,652——————16. Lakewood: 49,678
17. Euclid: 48,920————————–—–17. Cuyahoga Falls: 49,106
18. Middletown: 48,694————————18. Dublin: 49,037
19. Mansfield: 47,821———————-—–19. Middletown: 48,807
20. Newark: 47,573————————–—-20. Beavercreek: 47,741
21. Mentor: 47,159—————————––21. Mentor: 47,262
22. Cleveland Heights: 46,121—————-22. Mansfield: 46,599
23. Beavercreek: 45,193——————–—-23. Euclid: 46,550
24. Strongsville: 44,750————————–24. Strongsville: 44,660
25. Fairfield: 42,510——————————25. Cleveland Heights: 43,992
26. Dublin: 41,751———————————26. Fairfield: 42,558
27. Warren: 41,557—————————-—-27. Grove City: 41,820
28. Findlay 41,202—————————–—-28. Delaware: 41,283
29. Lancaster: 38,780—————————–29. Findlay: 41,225
30. Lima: 38,771———————————–30. Westerville: 41,103

In 2010, 4 Columbus metro communities were in the top 30.  By last year, 6 were, with more poised to enter the list in the coming years.  This represents the Columbus region’s growing influence in the state and how its share of the state’s population continues to increase.

Top 30 Ohio Cities with the Highest Total Growth Census 2010 to July 1, 2019
1. Columbus: +111,520
2. Hilliard: +8,099
3. Dublin: +7,286
4. Cincinnati: +6,997
5. Delaware: +6,530
6. Grove City: +6,245
7. Westerville: +4,983
8. North Ridgeville: +4,927
9. Pickerington: +3,867
10. New Albany: +3,209
11. Mason: +3,158
12. Newark: +2,742
13. Marysville: +2,573
14. Beavercreek: +2,548
15. Wadsworth: +2,479
16. Reynoldsburg: +2,434
17. Gahanna: +2,235
18. Avon: +2,206
19. Harrison: +1,999
20. Sunbury: +1,978
21. Avon Lake: +1,923
22. Powell: +1,875
23. Grandview Heights: +1,797
24. Oxford: +1,739
25. Lancaster: +1,725
26. Canal Winchester: +1,717
27. Upper Arlington: +1,595
28. Monroe: +1,573
29. Fairborn: +1,524
30. Springboro: +1,522

The Columbus Metro had 18 of the top 30, including 8 of the top 10.



Top 30 Ohio Cites with the Highest Total Growth July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019
1. Columbus: +7,684
2. Cincinnati: +1,663
3. Delaware: +1,356
4. Pickerington: +932
5. Westerville: +771
6. Youngstown: +609
7. North Ridgeville: +580
8. Sunbury: +483
9. Marysville: +471
10. Dublin: +443
11. Beavercreek: +415
12. Warren: +381
13. Newark: +314
14. Wadsworth: +291
15. Mason: +290
16. Harrison: +274
17. Grove City: +247
18. Oxford: +239
19. Miamisburg: +231
20. Troy: +229
21. Canal Winchester: +220
22. Xenia: +219
23. Cedarville: +209
24. Hilliard: +201
25. Fairborn: +182
26. Piqua: +182
27. Avon: +170
28. Plain City: +168
29. Aurora: +157
30. Springboro: +157

2018 to 2019, Columbus had 12 cities in the top 30, a lower number than the average of the decade. This is not necessarily indicating a slowdown in growth within the metro, however. The final year before a decennial census, population estimates tend to be used for final adjustments. This means that if a city is thought to have been estimated too high or too low through the decade, the final estimate year is adjusted accordingly and not necessarily according to true growth. The point of estimates is to get a snapshot of the population at the time of the estimate, but they are constantly being changed every time a new estimate comes out. This usually leaves the final estimate year as showing the slowest growth. This was true for 2008-2009 as well.

Finally, here is every Columbus Metro community ranked and the population change 2010-2019.
1. Columbus: 898,533 +111,520
2. Newark: 50,315 +2,742
3. Dublin: 49,037 +7,286
4. Grove City: 41,820 +6,245
5. Delaware: 41,283 +6,530
6. Westerville: 41,103 +4,983
7. Lancaster: 40,505 +1,725
8. Reynoldsburg: 38,327 +2,434
9. Hilliard: 36,534 +8,099
10. Gahanna: 35,483 +2,235
11. Upper Arlington: 35,366 +1,595
12. Marysville: 24,667 +2,573
13. Pickerington: 22,158 +3,867
14. Whitehall: 18,926 +864
15. Pataskala: 15,883 +921
16. Worthington: 14,692 +1,117
17. Circleville: 14,050 +736
18. Bexley: 13,770 +713
19. Powell: 13,375 +1,875
20. New Albany: 10,933 +3,209
21. Heath: 10,942 +632
22. London: 10,328 +424
23. Canal Winchester: 8,818 +1,717
24. Grandview Heights: 8,333 +1,797
25. Logan: 7,020 -132
26. Sunbury: 6,367 +1,978
27. Granville: 5,916 +270
28. Groveport: 5,621 +258
29. Obetz: 5,196 +664
30. Johnstown: 5,098 +466
31. New Lexington: 4,671 -60
32. Plain City: 4,586 +361
33. West Jefferson: 4,431 +209
34. Ashville: 4,385 +288
35. Baltimore: 3,004 +38
36. Buckeye Lake: 2,871 +125
37. Crooksville: 2,482 -52
38. Richwood: 2,480 +251
39. Hebron: 2,477 +141
40. Utica: 2,260 +128
41. Cardington: 2,071 +24
42. South Bloomfield: 1,979 +235
43. Roseville: 1,839 -13
44. Lithopolis: 1,796 +690
45. Mount Sterling: 1,793 +11
46. Commercial Point: 1,679 +97
47. Ashley: 1,608 +278
48. Somerset: 1,455 -26
49. Bremen: 1,452 +27
50. Minerva Park: 1,321 +49
51. Hanover: 1,204 +283
52. Millersport: 1,074 +30
53. Williamsport: 1,074 +51
54. Thornville: 1,008 +17
55. Urbancrest: 993 +33
56. Pleasantville: 959 -1
57. Milford Center: 902 +110
58. New Holland: 851 +50
59. Shawnee Hills: 820 +139
60. Junction City: 805 -14
61. Ostrander: 749 +106
62. Galena: 742 +89
63. Amanda: 738 +1
64. Marble Cliff: 732 +159
65. New Straitsville: 710 -12
66. Shawnee: 642 -13
67. Valleyview: 638 +18
68. Thurston: 604 +0
69. Corning: 568 -15
70. Buchtel: 567 +9
71. Carroll: 566 +42
72. Riverlea: 565 +20
73. Stoutsvlle: 565: +5
74. Kirkersville: 552 +27
75. Alexandria: 542 +25
76. Laurelville: 503 -24
77. Edison: 443 +6
78. Murray City: 435 -14
79. Sugar Grove: 426 +0
80. Hartford: 410 +13
81. St. Louisville: 386 +13
82. South Solon: 364 +9
83. Harrisburg: 341 +21
84. Marengo: 341 -1
85. Midway: 328 +1
86. Rushville: 309 +7
87. Magnetic Springs: 298 +30
88. Tarlton: 290 +8
89. Orient: 277 -1
90. Fulton: 255 -3
91. Lockbourne: 249 +12
92. Chesterville: 232 +4
93. Darbyville: 229 +7
94. Unionville Center: 229 -4
95. Gratiot: 220 -1
96. Glenford: 169 -4
97. Sparta: 160 -1
98. Hemlock: 152 -3
99. West Rushville: 143 +9
100. Brice: 120 +6
101. Rendville: 36 +0

Out of the 101 communities of any size in the Metro, 81 of them have either steady populations or estimated growth since 2010. Most of the 20 that have shown declines are very small communities in the Appalachia counties of Perry and Hocking, the furthest removed from Columbus’ influence.