Washington’s Population: Growing Slowly but Steadily – What’s Behind the Shift?

Washington is flexing its demographic muscles, but let’s be honest: it’s more like a slow stretch than a power lift lately! The Evergreen State welcomed 79,400 new residents this past year, raising its total population to over 8.1 million. That’s certainly a number to celebrate, but it’s quite the drop from the highs of 98,000 new faces annually between 2010 and 2020. So, what gives?

Most of the growth comes from net migration, but it also has taken a hit, dipping by 7,500 compared to last year. To add to the intrigue, there’s been a continuous decline in birth rates since 2017. That’s right; while folks are moving in, it seems they might not be planning to turn around and start a family as often as before. With Seattle leading the charge by absorbing nearly 19,000 newcomers, it seems some cities are still sporting their growth spurt outfits while others are just trying to keep up.

Could this slight decline in population growth be a blessing in disguise? Or is it more like a traffic jam on the freeway—slow but steady, with the hope that things will eventually pick up again? Whatever the case, as we consider the implications of these shifts, it’s clear that every new resident shapes our neighborhoods in unique ways. What do you think—are these changes something to fuss over, or are we just growing up a little differently?

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