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.
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.
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.
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.
The Census has released 2019 metro population estimates. This comparison uses those figures to rank the Columbus metro with other metros under the following categories: Ohio metros with at least 250,000 people. Midwest metros with at least 500,000 people. National metros with 1.5-2.599 million people.
Total Metro Area Population Census 2010, July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019 Census 2010——————————-July 1, 2018————————July 1, 2019 1. Chicago, IL: 9,461,105————-1. Chicago: 9,484,158———–1. Chicago: 9,458,539 2. Detroit, MI: 4,296,250—————2. Detroit: 4,322,084————-2. Detroit: 4,319,629 3. Minneapolis, MN: 3,348,8459—-3. Minneapolis: 3,610,061–3. Minneapolis: 3,640,043 4. St. Louis, MO: 2,787,701———-4. St. Louis: 2,803,958———4. St. Louis: 2,803,228 5. Pittsburgh, PA: 2,356,285——5. San Antonio: 2,512,379—5. San Antonio: 2,550,960 6. San Juan, PR: 2,350,126———-6. Portland: 2,473,350———6. Portland: 2,492,412 7. Portland, OR: 2,226,009——-7. Sacramento: 2,341,940—–7. Sacramento: 2,363,730 8. Sacramento, CA: 2,149,127—–8. Pittsburgh: 2,322,653——–8. Pittsburgh: 2,317,600 9. San Antonio, TX: 2,142,516—–9. Las Vegas: 2,226,115——-9. Las Vegas: 2,266,715 10. Cincinnati: 2,114,580———–10. Cincinnati: 2,211,936——-10. Austin: 2,227,083 11. Cleveland: 2,077,240———–11. Austin: 2,165,497———–11. Cincinnati: 2,221,208 12. Kansas City, MO: 2,009,342-12. Kansas City: 2,144,427–12. Kanas City: 2,157,990 13. Las Vegas, NV: 1,951,269—–13. Columbus: 2,104,194—–13. Columbus: 2,122,271 14. Columbus: 1,901,974——-14. Cleveland: 2,053,795—–14. Indianapolis: 2,074,537 15. Indianapolis, IN: 1,887,877—15. Indianapolis: 2,052,368—15. Cleveland: 2,048,449 16. San Jose, CA: 1,836,911—16. San Juan: 2,022,139———16. San Juan: 2,023,227 17. Austin, TX: 1,716,289————17. San Jose: 1,993,804—–17. San Jose: 1,990,660 18. Virginia Beach, VA: 1,676,822—18. Nashville: 1,904,726—18. Nashville: 1,934,317 19. Nashville: 1,670,890—19. Virginia Beach: 1,763,713–19. Virginia Beach: 1,768,901 20. Providence, RI: 1,600,852—-20. Providence: 1,622,379—20. Providence: 1,624,578 21. Milwaukee, WI: 1,555,908—–21. Milwaukee: 1,573,995—21. Milwaukee: 1,575,179 22. Jacksonville, FL: 1,345,596-22. Jacksonville: 1,532,663–22. Jacksonville: 1,559,514 23. Grand Rapids: 988,938–23. Grand Rapids: 1,071,370-23. Grand Rapids: 1,077,370 24. Omaha, NE: 865,350————–24. Omaha: 940,970—-24. Omaha: 949,442 25. Dayton: 799,232——————–25. Dayton: 805,088—–25. Dayton: 807,611 26. Akron: 703,200———————26. Akron: 703,855——–26. Akron: 703,479 27. Wichita, KS: 630,919————27. Des Moines: 690,915—27. Des Moines: 699,292 28. Toledo: 610,001——————28.Madison: 659,927——–28. Madison: 664,865 29. Madison, WI: 605,435———–29. Toledo: 643,089——–29. Toledo: 641,816 30. Des Moines, IA: 569,633——-30. Wichita: 637,519——30. Wichita: 640,218 31. Youngstown: 565,773———–31. Lansing: 548,674—–31. Lansing: 550,391 32. Lansing, MI: 534,684————32. Youngstown: 538,226—32. Youngstown: 536,081 33. Canton: 404,422——————33. Canton: 401,165—-33. Canton: 399,927
Charlotte and Orlando metros, previous national peers, have grown past the population standard limit of 2.599 million and are no longer used. Lansing and San Juan have been added.
Metro Area Total Growth Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019—————————–July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Austin: +510,794————————————–1. Austin: +61,586 2. San Antonio: +408,452——————————2. Las Vegas: +40,600 3. Las Vegas: +315,446——————————–3. San Antonio: +38,581 4. Minneapolis: +306,410——————————4. Minneapolis: +29,982 5. Nashville: +288,117———————————-5. Nashville: +29,591 6. Portland: +266,403———————————–6. Jacksonville: +26,851 7. Columbus: +220,297——————————–7. Indianapolis: +22,169 8. Sacramento: +214,603——————————8. Sacramento: +21,790 9. Jacksonville: +213,918——————————9. Portland: +19,062 10. Indianapolis: +186,660—————————-10. Columbus: +18,077 11. San Jose: +153,749——————————–11. Kansas City: +13,563 12. Kansas City: +148,648—————————–12. Cincinnati: +9,272 13. Des Moines: +92,817——————————-13. Omaha: +8,472 14. Omaha: +84,092————————————-14. Des Moines: +8,377 15. Grand Rapids: +83,700—————————–15. Grand Rapids: +6,000 16. Cincinnati: +83,541———————————-16. Virginia Beach: +5,188 17. Madison: +59,430————————————17. Madison: +4,938 18. Virginia Beach: +54,947—————————-18. Wichita: +2,699 19. Providence: +23,726——————————–19. Dayton: +2,523 20. Detroit: +23,379—————————————20. Providence: +2,199 21. Milwaukee: +19,271———————————21. Lansing: +1,717 22. Wichita: +17,157————————————-22. Milwaukee: +1,184 23. Lansing: +15,707————————————23. San Juan: +1,088 24. St. Louis: +15,527———————————–24. Akron: -376 25. Dayton: +8,379—————————————25. St. Louis: -730 26. Akron: +279——————————————-26. Canton: -810 27. Chicago: -2,566————————————–27. Toledo: -1,273 28. Canton: -6,902—————————————28. Youngstown: -2,45 29. Toledo: -9,613—————————————-29. Detroit: -2,455 30. Cleveland: -28,791———————————-30. San Jose: -3,144 31. Youngstown: -29,692——————————-31. Pittsburgh: -5,053 32. Pittsburgh: -36,685———————————32. Cleveland: -5,346 33. San Juan: -326,899——————————–33. Chicago: -25,619
Now let’s look at the components of population change for metro areas.
Total Births By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————–July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Chicago: 1,085,985——————————-1. Chicago: 108,425 2. Detroit: 462,696————————————2. Detroit: 48,879 3. Minneapolis: 419,634—————————–3. Minneapolis: 44,602 4. St. Louis: 310,273———————————4. San Antonio: 32,592 5. San Antonio: 300,032—————————-5. St. Louis: 31,686 6. Kansas City: 253,384—————————-6. Columbus: 27,096 7. Cincinnati: 253,180——————————-7. Las Vegas: 27,048 8. Portland: 253,110———————————8. Cincinnati: 26,892 9. Sacramento: 252,144—————————9. Sacramento: 26,752 10. Columbus: 251,291—————————10. Kanas City: 26,497 11. Las Vegas: 247,787—————————11. Indianapolis: 26,300 12. Indianapolis: 246,099————————-12. Portland: 26,204 13. Austin: 239,673———————————13. Austin: 26,115 14. San Jose: 220,891—————————–14. Nashville: 24,308 15. Pittsburgh: 218,159—————————-15. Pittsburgh: 22,570 16. Nashville: 216,969—————————–16. San Jose: 22,487 17. Cleveland: 212,523—————————-17. Cleveland: 22,003 18. Virginia Beach: 209,617———————-18. Virginia Beach: 21,589 19. Milwaukee: 182,815—————————19. Milwaukee: 18,927 20. Jacksonville: 167,526————————-20. Jacksonville: 18,592 21. Providence: 152,794————————–21. Providence: 16,182 22. Grand Rapids: 125,556———————-22. Grand Rapids: 13,339 23. Omaha: 122,306——————————23. Omaha: 12,848 24. Dayton: 88,783——————————–24. Dayton: 9,391 25. Des Moines: 85,530————————–25. Des Moines: 9,311 26. Wichita: 81,503——————————–26. Wichita: 8,057 27. Toledo: 71,848———————————27. Toledo: 7,428 28. Akron: 69,159———————————-28. Akron: 7,196 29. Madison: 67,559——————————29. Madison: 6,988 30. Lansing: 54,679——————————-30. Lansing: 5,702 31. Youngstown: 51,745————————-31. Youngstown: 5,450 32. Canton: 40,730——————————–32. Canton: 4,254
Components of change stats are not available for San Juan.
Total Deaths By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————————July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Chicago: -647,739——————————————-1. Chicago: -74,501 2. Detroit: -377,943———————————————2. Detroit: -42,151 3. Pittsburgh: -253,686—————————————-3. St. Louis: -27,669 4. St. Louis: -241,884——————————————4. Pittsburgh: -27,387 5. Minneapolis: -210,510————————————-5. Minneapolis: -24,290 6. Cleveland: -198,044—————————————-6. Cleveland: -21,464 7. Cincinnati: -179,563—————————————-7. Cincinnati: -20,279 8. Sacramento: -157,234————————————-8. Sacramento: -18,933 9. Portland: -156,592——————————————9. San Antonio: -18,551 10. Kansas City: -155,166———————————–10. Portland: -18,458 11. San Antonio: -153,339———————————–11. Las Vegas: -17,919 12. Indianapolis: -148,608———————————–12. Kansas City: -17,692 13. Columbus: -142,665————————————–13. Columbus: -16,704 14. Las Vegas: -142,415————————————-14. Indianapolis: -16,678 15. Providence: -139,006————————————15. Virginia Beach: -15,280 16. Virginia Beach: -131,065——————————–16. Providence: -15,189 17. Nashville: -128,228—————————————17. Nashville: -15,122 18. Milwaukee: -123,806————————————-18. Jacksonville: -14,089 19. Jacksonville: -114,660———————————–19. Milwaukee: -13,810 20. San Jose: -94,587—————————————-20. San Jose: -11,582 21. Austin: -89,867——————————————–21. Austin: -11,445 22. Dayton: -77,893——————————————-22. Dayton: -8,506 23. Grand Rapids: -69,869———————————-23. Grand Rapids: -7,947 24. Akron: -65,852——————————————–24. Akron: -7,196 25. Youngstown: -64,558————————————25. Omaha: -6,931 26. Omaha: -62,030——————————————26. Youngstown: -6,842 27. Toledo: -59,436——————————————-27. Toledo: -6,624 28. Wichita: -51,734——————————————28. Wichita: 5,732 29. Des Moines: -44,857————————————29. Des Moines: 5,175 30. Canton: -41,233——————————————30. Lansing: -4,577 31. Lansing: -40,586—————————————–31. Madison: -4,453 32. Madison: -39,499—————————————-32. Canton: -4,395
Total Net Natural Change (Births vs. Deaths) By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————————July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Chicago: 438,246———————————————1. Chicago: 33,924 2. Minneapolis: 209,124—————————————-2. Minneapolis: 20,312 3. Austin: 149,806———————————————–3. Austin: 14,670 4. San Antonio: 146,693—————————————4. San Antonio: 14,041 5. San Jose: 126,304——————————————-5. San Jose: 10,905 6. Columbus: 108,626——————————————6. Columbus: 10,392 7. Las Vegas: 105,372—————————————–7. Indianapolis: 9,622 8. Kansas City: 98,218—————————————–8. Nashville: 9,186 9. Indianapolis: 97,491—————————————–9. Las Vegas: 9,129 10. Portland: 96,518——————————————-10. Kansas City: 8,805 11. Sacramento: 94,910————————————–11. Sacramento: 7,819 12. Nashville: 88,741——————————————12. Portland: 7,746 13. Detroit: 84,753———————————————-13. Detroit: 6,728 14. Virginia Beach: 78,552———————————–14. Cincinnati: 6,613 15. Cincinnati: 73,617—————————————–15. Virginia Beach: 6,309 16. St. Louis: 68,389——————————————-16. Omaha: 5,917 17. Omaha: 60,276———————————————17. Grand Rapids: 5,392 18. Milwaukee: 59,009—————————————–18. Milwaukee: 5,117 19. Grand Rapids: 55,687————————————19. Jacksonville: 4,503 20. Jacksonville: 52,866————————————–20. Des Moines: 4,136 21. Des Moines: 40,673————————————–21. St. Louis: 4,017 22. Wichita: 29,769——————————————–22. Madison: 2,535 23. Madison: 28,060——————————————23. Wichita: 2,325 24. Cleveland: 14,479—————————————-24. Lansing: 1,125 25. Lansing: 14,093——————————————25. Providence: 993 26. Providence: 13,788————————————–26. Dayton: 885 27. Toledo: 12,412——————————————–27. Toledo: 804 28. Dayton: 10,890——————————————-28. Cleveland: 539 29. Akron: 3,307———————————————-29. Akron: 0 30. Canton: -503———————————————-30. Canton: -141 31. Youngstown: -12,813———————————–31. Youngstown: -1,392 32. Pittsburgh: -35,527————————————–32. Pittsburgh: -4,817
Total Domestic Migration By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————————July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Austin: 293,162———————————————–1. Austin: 41,334 2. San Antonio; 214,509—————————————2. Las Vegas: 31,643 3. Las Vegas: 185,570—————————————–3. San Antonio: 21,987 4. Nashville: 158,336——————————————-4. Jacksonville: 20,051 5. Jacksonville: 126,483—————————————5. Nashville: 15,482 6. Portland: 121,473——————————————–6. Sacramento: 9,941 7. Sacramento: 69,723—————————————-7. Portland: 8,374 8. Columbus: 53,301——————————————-8. Indianapolis: 6,196 9. Indianapolis: 46,076—————————————-9. Columbus: 3,746 10. Des Moines: 40,183————————————–10. Des Moines: 3,718 11. Kansas City: 24,457————————————–11. Minneapolis: 3,202 12. Madison: 15,880——————————————12. Kansas City: 2,437 13. Minneapolis: 11,638————————————–13. Madison: 1,418 14. Grand Rapids: 10,903———————————–14. Cincinnati: 1,193 15. Omaha: 7,537———————————————-15. Omaha: 1,068 16. Canton: -7,124———————————————16. Dayton: 896 17. Dayton: -15,586——————————————–17. Wichita: -291 18. Akron: -15,683———————————————-18. Grand Rapids: -669 19. Lansing: -18,240——————————————-19. Canton: -677 20. Youngstown: -19,317————————————-20. Youngstown: -751 21. Cincinnati: -19,944—————————————-21. Lansing: -840 22. Wichita: -21,454——————————————-22. Akron: -1,190 23. Toledo: -27,740——————————————–23. Virginia Beach: -2,197 24. Pittsburgh: -31,804—————————————24. Toledo: -2,339 25. Providence: -38,503————————————-25. Pittsburgh: -2,658 26. Virginia Beach: -59,729———————————26. Providence: -3,185 27. Milwaukee: -64,395————————————–27. Milwaukee: -5,140 28. Cleveland: -78,763————————————–28. Cleveland: -7,250 29. St. Louis: -85,003—————————————-29. St. Louis: -7,685 30. San Jose: -124,105————————————-30. Detroit: -16,655 31. Detroit: -172,225—————————————–31. San Jose: -27,495 32. Chicago: -638,599—————————————32. Chicago: -74,950
Total International Migration By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————————July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Chicago: 197,093——————————————-1. Chicago: 15,257 2. San Jose: 152,520—————————————–2. San Jose: 13,371 3. Detroit: 110,907———————————————3. Detroit: 7,516 4. Minneapolis: 87,847—————————————4. Minneapolis: 6,645 5. Austin: 62,740———————————————–5. Indianapolis: 6,394 6. Columbus: 58,853——————————————6. Austin: 5,280 7. Sacramento: 51,225—————————————7. Nashville: 4,937 8. Providence: 49,015—————————————-8. Providence: 4,455 9. Portland: 47,983——————————————–9. Sacramento: 4,053 10. San Antonio: 45,348————————————10. Columbus: 4,032 11. Indianapolis: 43,502————————————-11. St. Louis: 2,991 12. Nashville: 39,422—————————————–12. Portland: 2,960 13. Virginia Beach: 36,319———————————-13. Pittsburgh: 2,555 14. Cleveland: 36,318—————————————-14. San Antonio: 2,504 15. Jacksonville: 34,089————————————-15. Kansas City: 2,377 16. St. Louis: 32,872—————————————–16. Jacksonville: 2,251 17. Cincinnati: 31,157—————————————-17. Cincinnati: 1,547 18. Pittsburgh: 30,654—————————————-18. Omaha: 1,517 19. Kansas City: 27,259————————————-19. Lansing: 1,452 20. Milwaukee: 25,298—————————————20. Cleveland: 1,433 21. Las Vegas: 23,319—————————————21. Grand Rapids: 1,316 22. Lansing: 19,865——————————————22. Milwaukee: 1,277 23. Grand Rapids: 17,629———————————-23. Virginia Beach: 1,165 24. Omaha: 16,785——————————————24. Madison: 988 25. Madison: 15,600—————————————–25. Akron: 836 26. Dayton: 13,473——————————————26. Dayton: 785 27. Akron: 13,086——————————————–27. Wichta: 688 28. Des Moines: 11,716————————————28. Des Moines: 519 29. Wichita: 9,096——————————————-29. Toledo: 270 30. Toledo: 5,646——————————————–30. Canton: 25 31. Youngstown: 2,675————————————-31. Youngstown: 25 32. Canton: 1,073——————————————–32. Las Vegas: -360
Total Net Migration By Metro Census 2010-July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 Census 2010-July 1, 2019———————————July 1, 2018-July 1, 2019 1. Austin: 355,902———————————————1. Austin: 46,614 2. San Antonio: 259,857————————————-2. Las Vegas: 31,283 3. Las Vegas: 208,889—————————————3. San Antonio: 24,491 4. Nasvhille: 197,758—————————————–4. Jacksonville: 22,302 5. Portland: 169,456——————————————5. Nashville: 20,419 6. Jacksonville: 160,572————————————-6. Sacramento: 13,994 7. Sacramento: 120,948————————————-7. Indianapolis: 12,590 8. Columbus: 112,154—————————————-8. Portland: 11,334 9. Minneapolis: 99,458—————————————9. Minneapolis: 9,847 10. Indianapolis: 89,578————————————10. Columbus: 7,778 11. Des Moines: 51,899————————————-11. Kansas City: 4,814 12. Kansas City: 51,716————————————-12. Des Moines: 4,237 13. Madison: 31,480——————————————13. Cincinnati: 2,740 14. Grand Rapids: 28,352———————————–14. Omaha: 2,585 15. San Jose: 28,415—————————————-15. Madison: 2,406 16. Omaha: 24,322——————————————-16. Dayton: 1,681 17. Cincinnati: 11,213—————————————-17. Providence: 1,270 18. Providence: 10,512————————————–18. Grand Rapids: 647 19. Lansing: 1,625——————————————–19. Lansing: 612 20. Pittsburgh: -1,150—————————————-20. Wichita: 397 21. Dayton: -2,113——————————————–21. Pittsburgh: -103 22. Akron: -2,597———————————————-22. Akron: -354 23. Canton: -6,051——————————————–23. Canton: -652 24. Wichita: -12,358——————————————24. Youngstown: -726 25. Youngstown: -16,642————————————25. Virginia Beach: -1,032 26. Toledo: -22,094——————————————-26. Toledo: -2,069 27. Virginia Beach: -23,410——————————–27. Milwaukee: -3,863 28. Milwaukee: -39,097————————————-28. St. Louis: -4,694 29. Cleveland: -42,445————————————–29. Cleveland: -5,817 30. St. Louis: -52,131—————————————-30. Detroit: -9,139 31. Detroit: -61,318——————————————31. San Jose: -14,124 32. Chicago: -441,506————————————–32. Chicago: -59,693
The 2019 metro population estimates show Columbus largely holding its own against state, regional and national peers.