[OC] Post-Pandemic Population Growth Trends, by US Metro Area (2022->2024)

[u/TA-MajestyPalm]

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.

[u/zeroonetw]

With enough sprawl density naturally forms. The Texas cities’ cores are rapidly densifying. Also multimodal commercial centers have formed as well so you end up with a diffused network. Commute times are better in the Texas cities than the big coastal ones.

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/zeroonetw]

Your commutes will just if bad if not worse if you only build the hyper car centric sprawl Texas is known for. And Texas commutes sucks just as bad as coastal cities. And were is Texas building density, it’s mostly McMansions.

[u/zeroonetw → u/ColonialTransitFan95]

https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S0801?q=average%20commute%20times&g=010XX00US$31000M1

You’re free to peruse the commute data.

Dense neighborhoods in city cores:

Uptown, Dallas

Rice Military, Houston

Downtown/UT area, Austin

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/zeroonetw]

Yes but most of Dallas isn’t uptown, it’s single family sprawl. Texas sprawl hasn’t gone as far as coastal city’s so people are come from closer in. Your post history indicates you have some sort of bias towards Texas.

[u/zeroonetw → u/ColonialTransitFan95]

Did you read my initial comment?

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/zeroonetw]

Yes, but I disagree that Texas is building higher density. Pre war neighborhoods are gonna be fine. But your new stuff is mostly sprawl unless it’s new stuff in those pre war neighborhoods. Plus Texas is very anti transit and car dependency doesn’t help with housing affordability.

[u/zeroonetw → u/ColonialTransitFan95]

lol there is nothing pre-war about those old neighborhoods anymore. If you want to stick your head in the sand that’s fine. I suggest you drop your google street view in any of these areas.

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/zeroonetw]

I’ve done better, I visited them in real life and talked to planners and locals in the area (Dallas). It’s old pre war neighborhoods (uptown) with new construction starting the 80s. Most of new housing stock is single family homes outside of the few neighborhoods built before the 50s. I notice you didn’t comment about Texas lack of support for transit.

[u/zeroonetw → u/ColonialTransitFan95]

I guess I need a little help understanding your point. You’ve been to the cores of these cities. You’ve seen the new high density construction occur in the cores of these cities. You’ve seen how much the density has increased in the cores of these cities… but yet conclude density is not happening?

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/zeroonetw]

I’m not saying density isn’t happening. But they are only building them in the cores. Outside of that most of the housing being built is still the sprawling suburbs. My point is that Texas is only “cheaper” because it still has space to sprawl out. But that not sustainable and will run out. Yes they are building towers downtown (most are office buildings still).

[u/tu-vens-tu-vens → u/ColonialTransitFan95]

It’s pretty undeniable that Texas is building higher density.

[u/ColonialTransitFan95 → u/tu-vens-tu-vens]

I didn’t say they aren’t building any higher density, just only in a hand full of neighborhoods. The stuff downtown and directly next to it is ok, the issue is the density drops off a cliff a few miles outside of downtown. Most of the new housing stock in Texas is suburban sprawl. Also again no one has addressed the issue with Texas state government view on things like transit. My argument is that the growth in the sunbelt isn’t because these areas have to space for the sprawl now but won’t in the future.