r/dataisbeautiful • u/TA-MajestyPalm • 4d ago

OC [OC] Post-Pandemic Population Growth Trends, by US Metro Area (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.

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u/LittleMsSavoirFaire 4d ago

Are people primarily moving to metro areas? Because I live in the purple region and we're getting swarmed with highly paid telecommuters from NoVa and Charlotte. They're like "I get three times the lifestyle here if I'm willing to drive three hours once a week." 

It's less than it was in covid but it's still happening 

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u/TA-MajestyPalm 4d ago

It's highly variable, and there are certainly some rural areas that are growing, but yes Metro Areas have been growing faster than rural areas

Keep in mind this graphic is only showing the largest metro areas (population over 1 million)

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u/tesla3by3 3d ago

Thats still -200 million in those metros, so the majority of the country

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u/STODracula 3d ago

Most jobs are in metro areas, and for me, commuting even an hour away is too much. Did it until I was in my early 30s and thanks but no thanks.

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u/LittleMsSavoirFaire 3d ago

These are people who are director to vp level. Once a week for a little face time seems to work well for them

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u/gsfgf 3d ago

I live in Atlanta. You can be willing to commute 3 hours round trip and still be in the metro area lol.

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u/LittleMsSavoirFaire 3d ago edited 3d ago

That sounds horrifying lol. A lot of people in DC live in Winchester which is a 90.min commute, but if you want to live a ways down I-81 then it's 3hr one way, but they will get a hotel for the night, maybe do an evening event, have a round of golf or an early meeting with connections the next morning, and then drive home. It's a whole lifestyle really. Face time /= office time. 

My small town commute is not even 10 minutes, but I got followed home by a freaking Benz and someone drives a Lotus at my damn gym. They're bougifying the fuck out of this place.

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u/gsfgf 3d ago

Oh I meant 90 mins away.

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u/ObvMann 3d ago

Love cars! Our only option.

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u/ObvMann 3d ago

Yes no one lives in cities. No parking fir my armada