Population and Demographics
Our region's population is always changing. Community development researchers describe how and where and why these changes have occurred, or will. These demographic trends are essential to informed regional policy, planning, infrastructure, and service decisions.
Community development research serves as a Census State Data Center partner to increase access to and use of data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. We also publish summaries, slide decks, and interactive tools that draw out key findings about population growth and changes to share with the Metropolitan Council and its committees, among other regional audiences.
Related information
Regional and Local Forecasts to 2050
Community development researchers develop long-range forecasts of when, where, and how much population, household, and job growth is expected in the seven-county region over a 30-year horizon.
The regional forecast to 2050 looks at our region’s position within the larger national economy to assess how economic strengths will attract people to the Twin Cities. Local forecasts to 2050 distribute regional growth to specific places.
Annual Population and Household Estimates
We prepare annual population and household estimates for cities, townships, and counties to inform state funding decisions. These estimates have a one-year lag. The most recent population and household estimates were published in July 2025 and describe population and households in 2024.
Population and household estimates start with an in-depth analysis of changes in housing stock. Then, we estimate the number and size of households and individuals living in all occupied units by housing type.
Equity Considerations dataset
Community development research’s Equity Considerations dataset provides equity-relevant characteristics of people and place for each of the region's 784 census tracts. It brings together nearly 300 fields compiled from 25 sources, drawing out the diversity within and across the region’s neighborhoods. Updated in 2024, Equity Considerations offers a uniquely well-rounded dataset to start considering—and advancing—equity.
Discover Census Trends interactive
Long-term demographic and housing trends can be difficult to analyze when geographies change over time. The Discover Census Trends interactive presents decennial census data from 1990 to 2020 in consistent boundaries for a full range of administrative and political geographies. Most topics are disaggregated by major race and ethnicity groups.