Policy

Migration patterns return to pre-pandemic norms

The U.S. Census Bureau released new data Thursday illustrating the latest population changes.
A briefcase of a census taker is seen as she knocks on the door of a residence, Aug. 11, 2020, in Winter Park, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file)

Northeastern and Midwestern regions that lost significant amounts of population during the coronavirus pandemic have begun to reverse those trends, in a return to pre-pandemic growth patterns as migration habits shift.

New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday show about 60% of counties in America gained population over the last year, up from 52% that added new residents between 2021 and 2022. More Midwestern counties added residents than lost residents, a change from the prior year, while the number of Northeastern counties that added residents only slightly lagged the counties that lost residents.

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