City’s Population Estimate Up From Last Year

GREENSBORO, NC (September 8, 2010) – The annual estimate for Greensboro’s official population as of July 1, 2010 is 260,083. This represents a slight increase (.8 percent) from last year’s estimate of 257,997. 
 
Factors influencing this year’s official population estimate include:

• The use of a three-year (2006-2008) American Community Survey (ACS) for Greensboro rather than single-year data, which is more consistent due to the larger sample size. Five-year ACS data will be available next year and will then replace the three-year ACS data for calculating population estimates.
• The average household size increased from 2.30 to 2.32 persons per household.
• Growth occurred despite higher residential vacancy rates, particularly in rental units
  (13.3 percent in the 2009 estimate versus 14.2 percent in the 2010 estimate).
• The reduction of approximately 660 people as a result of a court-ordered de-annexation, which is currently under appeal by the City of Greensboro.  

Throughout the decade, population growth in Greensboro has averaged 1.6 percent a year with the most notable increase of 5.5 percent occurring between 2007 and 2008, due in large part to significant City-initiated annexations.  

Once available, the Census 2010 decennial population figure will become the new base number upon which future population estimates will be calculated. Population estimates may be adjusted at that time to reflect new information. For more information, call Karen Markovics at 336-412-5759.