Central Ohio leads statewide population growth
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Central Ohio continues to be a source of population growth for the state, with most counties in the region gaining residents over the last five years.
Why it matters: Local planners expect this growth to continue for decades, even as Ohio's overall population is predicted to decline in the coming years.
- As a whole, the country saw a +3% average change, reflecting broader concerns about slowing population growth.
By the numbers: Union County (+17.3%) saw the largest increase across all of Ohio, per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019-2023 five-year American Community Survey.
- But each of Delaware (+12.3%), Fairfield (+5.5%), Licking (+4.7%), Franklin (3.6%), Pickaway (3.5%) and Madison (+0.3%) counties grew as well.
- Broadly, Ohio saw a +1.2% average change, the 11th lowest rate in the nation.
Zoom out: Suburban counties like Warren (near Cincinnati, +8.7%), Miami (near Dayton, +4.5%) and Medina (near Cleveland, +3.3%) saw their own increases.
- But population decline can be found in more rural areas east and south of Columbus in counties like Athens (-6.6%), Morgan (-6.4%) and Harrison (-5.9%).
- Population has slowed or started to decline in more populated counties like Lucas (Toledo, -0.8%), Cuyahoga (Cleveland, -0.3%), Muskingum (Zanesville, +0.4%) and Montgomery (Dayton, +0.7%).
Between the lines: International migration is the main driver behind recent population growth at the national level, accounting for "84% of the nation's 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024," the Census Bureau recently noted.
What we're watching: Population trends could be notably affected by President-elect Trump's plan to deport millions of people.