2011 Census estimates for all major Pennsylvania cities (50,000+ population) (Reading, Altoona: price, housing)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Looks like the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is the state's laggard when it comes to the NATIONAL trend of people flooding back into cities and eschewing the suburbs. It was the same way when I lived there, too. Tragically idiotic leadership is to blame, of course.

I could be wrong, but I think it's because the growth in the last decade in NEPA was due to spillover from the NYC exurbs, and the recession put an end to people thinking it's a good idea to live that far out.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

I was curious about this as well.

They used to do it based upon the number of new housing units constructed in a municipality. However, they got burned hard with Atlanta last decade with that, so they scrapped that model.

The new one is in development, and judging by the Allegheny County projections (which showed growth in every single friggin municipality - even Braddock!), they more or less pulled the numbers out of their butt.

Countywide numbers should be accurate though - the question is how they estimate the growth in the core cities versus outlying suburbs.

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by eschaton

They used to do it based upon the number of new housing units constructed in a municipality. However, they got burned hard with Atlanta last decade with that, so they scrapped that model.

The new one is in development, and judging by the Allegheny County projections (which showed growth in every single friggin municipality - even Braddock!), they more or less pulled the numbers out of their butt.

Countywide numbers should be accurate though - the question is how they estimate the growth in the core cities versus outlying suburbs.

Good point.

I question how they account for those who don't complete the census. Sort of like surveys will give a 3% +/- margin of error on their numbers.

[pman]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I could be wrong, but I think it's because the growth in the last decade in NEPA was due to spillover from the NYC exurbs, and the recession put an end to people thinking it's a good idea to live that far out.

yep, and the natives keep leaving

[eschaton]

The estimates are TOTAL CRAP!

[alleghenyangel]

York:

2010: 43,779
2011: 43,884

+105

[Duderino]

Looking at the bigger picture, it's pretty clear that all of the major urban centers of the Southeastern quadrant of Pennsylvania are growing again (Allentown, Bethelehem, Philadelphia, Reading, York, Lancaster and Harrisburg). This should come as no surprise due to continued in-migration from surrounding states/metro areas (New York, New Jersey and Maryland), immigration, and less out-migration of young people.

While Pittsburgh and Erie are also notable for experiencing estimated growth, hopefully this trend can spread to more urban centers in the Western and Northern portions of the state

[alleghenyangel]

The eastern cities are seeing huge increases in the Latino population, which the western side of the state is not seeing.

[SPSGuy]

Wow, Altoona is growing. Wow. Is the Latino population increasing in Altoona?

[Gnutella]

Originally Posted by SPSGuy

Wow, Altoona is growing. Wow. Is the Latino population increasing in Altoona?

It can't possibly decrease in Altoona.