Census Data

Robert Land and Chrissy Nicholas, University of Nevada completed an analysis of the Census Data to determine how the population grew in different growth areas surrounding the fifty largest metro areas. Their analysis was from 2000 to 2010.

They basically classified the growth rings around the metro center. Each growth ring is identified as a type of burb.

Type of suburb growth from 2000 to 2010:
24.5% growth rate in the farthest ring of development from the urban center.
11.3% growth rate in the area closest to the urban core.
7.8% in the middle growth ring.

Metropolitan areas as a whole had a growth rate of 10.5%
The growth rate for the country was 9.7%

It is stated that 85% of the nation’s 308.7 million people live in metro areas and over half live in the suburban rings around urban centers. There are five growth areas identified in the report: urban centers, inner suburbs, emerging suburbs, mature suburbs and exurbs. The report is based on rings of development and how it has occurred over the years.

Using the census to highlight growth patterns is of interest and it is clear that affordability remains an important component of the where to live decision matrix. As we enter a new decade, the growth patterns will continue to follow affordability. However, monthly costs will include energy and transportation. The cost of a barrel of oil will alter growth patterns in the future. Families will need to live within their monthly budget and the cost to commute will be more important than ever before.

Maybe the growth rings beyond the urban core become their own urban centers. Resulting in a sustainable community based on social factors, environmental respect, economic considerations, energy costs and transportation alternatives. With technological advances, maybe companies will have to go to where the workers live rather than the workers commuting to the company.