2022 Omaha Metro/CSA population Estimates-

[Omaha Cowboy]

Without much fan fair, the US Census released their 2022 US county population estimates late last night..

The amount of shoddy hoops one needs to jump through just to arrive at the Omaha metro and CSA numbers are ridiculous. In any case, here are the latest for 2022-

Omaha MSA (Metro)- 977,165.
Omaha CSA (Combined Statistical Area adding Dodge County NE)- 1,014,162..

The lowballing continues.. But at least these estimates have Omaha adding about 6000 residents over the 2021 estimate..

Now consider the last 2 official Census numbers- Omaha has held and maintained a 12% growth rate over the past 2 decades (20 years).. I believe Covid has thrown a monkey-wrench into the last 2 estimates since the 2020 Official census. Omaha’s metro population according to the official 2020 Census was 967,604..

My estimate for Omaha’s 2022 metro population is based off the consistent TWENTY year 12% growth rate and broken down into yearly numbers..

By my count, the population actually is-

Omaha MSA (Metro)- 990,826
Omaha CSA- 1,027,823..

Factoring in the 12% growth rate, Omaha’s metro population will hit the 1 million plus mark in 2023. Using the method the US Census estimates are applying, Omaha’s metro won’t 1 million until 2026 or even 2027, Which I believe is utter lowballing nonsense..

In any case, this is the latest “data” from the US Census.. I trust my estimates more..

Discuss…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Garrett]

COVID was just extremely disruptive to immigration, which tends to be a big component of population gain for many major cities, and it also saw populations shift across the board in ways not seen in decades. I think thinking that Omaha has been growing at the same rate as the last 20 years when the last few years have been anything but the same is wildly optimistic.

[skinzfan23]

I think growth in residential has exploded in the past few years in Omaha, between all the single family homes, and also the apt buildings, I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers are actually higher as well. Either way, with the streetcar announcement downtown that can only help with growth

[Omaha Cowboy]

I think growth in residential has exploded in the past few years in Omaha, between all the single family homes, and also the apt buildings, I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers are actually higher as well. Either way, with the streetcar announcement downtown that can only help with growth
True. I just hope I’;m

Agreed..

These COVID numbers really do not tell the story as it relates to the eye test…

If anything, Omaha has been growing at an increased rate. Adding in the developments with our streetcar, our NeXt project etc..reality dictates we must be growing at the 12% rate if not higher. These US Census estimates are bogus at best..

Plus, the “eye test” shows, at least to me as a resident, the Omaha metro is growing at a MINIMUM at least the rate it has been the past 20 years..if not more. Too bad we have to wait until the 2030 Official Census to prove this to be true. I just hope I’m still alive to deliver that happy news to the doubters…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Athomsfere]

Plus, the “eye test” shows, at least to me as a resident, the Omaha metro is growing at a MINIMUM at least the rate it has been the past 20 years..if not more. Too bad we have to wait until the 2030 Official Census to prove this to be true. I just hope I’m still alive to deliver that happy news to the doubters…

No offense, but I wouldn't trust an eye test. We could be growing at half the rate of the 80s, and that's still about the same amount of buildings housing units per year.

Add in that we have a lot more healthy, and visible construction vs mostly sprawl...

Basically, lots of ways for bias to creep in and ruin the eyeball test.

That said:

Based off the construction I think we are averaging a good amount of units to be around the 12%. And no developers are panicking about vacancy rates.

My guess: Pre Covid we were about to have a boom decade of about 15% or slightly more. With Covid, I think we are going to see it above 10% and below 15%, depending on how the next 7 years play out.

[OmahaJaysCU]

Not even an entire percent since 2020? This is not good.

Am I wrong but this was 1% annual for 20 years?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Plus, the “eye test” shows, at least to me as a resident, the Omaha metro is growing at a MINIMUM at least the rate it has been the past 20 years..if not more. Too bad we have to wait until the 2030 Official Census to prove this to be true. I just hope I’m still alive to deliver that happy news to the doubters…

No offense, but I wouldn't trust an eye test. We could be growing at half the rate of the 80s, and that's still about the same amount of buildings housing units per year.

Add in that we have a lot more healthy, and visible construction vs mostly sprawl...

Basically, lots of ways for bias to creep in and ruin the eyeball test.

That said:

Based off the construction I think we are averaging a good amount of units to be around the 12%. And no developers are panicking about vacancy rates.

My guess: Pre Covid we were about to have a boom decade of about 15% or slightly more. With Covid, I think we are going to see it above 10% and below 15%, depending on how the next 7 years play out.

No offense taken..

However some “eye tests” are more valid than others..

I’ve lived in Omaha in the 1980’s and 1990’s when Omaha’s metro, while still growing, was not as “robust”..I’ve also lived here the past 23 years (2000 thru present) when our metro’s growth has been more robust.. From a development/construction standpoint, traffic, people (including diversity of people), urban infill and sprawl into the suburbs..There is no question, to my eyes, the growth difference these past 20+ years compared to the prior 20. Again, I’m old enough to have lived and seen it here..Bias not withstanding..

In any case, I’m confident Omaha continues to grow at least at the 12% rate, which it has from 2000-2020..I’ve even argued we must grow even more robustly this decade to accommodate all the jobs our core developments will demand (Project NExT etc etc)…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

Not even an entire percent since 2020? This is not good.

Am I wrong but this was 1% annual for 20 years?

The current US Census estimates are hogwash imo. They were lowballing Omaha’s growth rate even prior to Covid (as the official 2010 and 2020 numbers proved), so now they’re really going to town lol..

The Prior 2 decades, Omaha grew at a 12% clip, divide that over a 10 year decade, Omaha annually grows at a 1.2% clip..which I’m sure varies slightly year over year, but that’s been the average…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Garrett]

So explain to me how Omaha is an exception in a couple years where growth has dramatically slowed across the region and country as a whole with the exception of a few standout cities?

[Omaha Cowboy]

It really boils down to whether you buy these US Census estimates or not.. Speaking of Metro Omaha specifically, I do not. So many factors point to more robust growth in the Omaha metro than these lowball estimates imply..

Simply look at demand for housing and job availability/growth. Folks are moving here, and at a lively rate..and, imo, at a far more robust rate than the last 2 annual estimates show. Proof? No. Just my feeling based on what I see, hear and feel with my feet on the ground..

Ask ourselves this- would Mutual of Omaha double down on the core and build a 44 story skyscraper downtown with zero confidence in Omaha’s growth/future growth? Would the streetcar line become reality? Would the Mercantile build a significant, density enhancing cluster? Would there be a $400 million private investment in the Riverfront Redevelopment project? A $103 million (also Privately funded) Luminarium Science museum? Growth in North Downtown including Kiewit’s new world HQ’s? The Blackstone district development explosion? Heartland Preserve out west? Project NExT? Etc etc..would ANY of this be happening in Omaha without confidence in Omaha’s robust growth/future growth? All signs point to confidence in robust growth. If Omaha was truly a “stunted metropolis” I’d say pretty much NONE of these projects would become reality, if even proposed..

Folks can believe what they want, but other than living here and the eye test, the proof in the pudding will be the 2030 official census. Just like the 2020 and 2010 official numbers showed- which painted a much more robust growth number than the annual estimates..

Also, let’s not under estimate Omaha’s ability to rebound/recover from the pandemic. Like the Great Recession from 2008-2011, Omaha was among the handful of metros which was affected the least and rebounded the strongest. I’d submit the same about the Omaha metro during and now post Pandemic..

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Linkin5]

Not sure urban core projects are a great measure of metro growth. Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago all have significant projects in their core occurring right now while their metro populations are either declining or stagnant. I’m willing to listen to claims that the census estimates are wrong, but an eye test is nothing more than a guess.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Not sure urban core projects are a great measure of metro growth. Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago all have significant projects in their core occurring right now while their metro populations are either declining or stagnant. I’m willing to listen to claims that the census estimates are wrong, but an eye test is nothing more than a guess.

These annual US Census estimates are a guess too..

The difference is, all those cities you mention, are metros with a population 2-3 times and more the size of Omaha..and 2 of those- Cleveland and Detroit - have seen “rust belt” regression since the early 1960’s..

IMO, apples and oranges comparison to a metro like Omaha- which has never had a regression..and the need to rebound like a Cleveland, Detroit..or even a St Louis..

Urban core projects with the depth we’ve seen for a metro like Omaha mean much more- and imo have more impact when you’re a mid major metro- as opposed to historically, a “Big” like Detroit, Cleveland..or “Mega Big” like Chicago etc..

Interesting point you make and good discussion…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nativeomahan]

It really really really doesn’t matter what any of us think. The official stats are what go into the books. The next census isn’t for 7 more years, and it takes close to a year after that for the official decennial population figures to be released. At that time we will know if these annual estimates were on target, or too high or too low.

[Omaha Cowboy]

It really really really doesn’t matter what any of us think. The official stats are what go into the books.

Agree with you there.. Especially since the “official” numbers, especially the last 2 decades, have painted a different story of Omaha metropolitan growth compared to the annual estimates..which are just fun fodder to consider and discuss year by year…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Erik]

Home sales and building permits are a good indicator. As are births versus deaths and to a lesser degree are new jobs and migration reports.

There are always variations in the data, however, housing supply kept going down despite near record building during the "slowdown".

Same goes for growth in OPPD residential numbers (helpful guide, but again imperfect). From 2020 to 2022 the number of residential households (not including other types) went from 342,716 to 351,712. A growth of about 9,000 households in some area counties on the Nebraska side (for better and worse).

This is why I'm fairly confident the slowdown here was over exaggerated.

It doesn't mean that it was exaggerated nationwide as there were a lot of COVID deaths and a dramatic immigration slowdown.

Overall, I think we are lowballed pretty hard and that is okay. We will see close to the real numbers in the final results.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Home sales and building permits are a good indicator. As are births versus deaths and to a lesser degree are new jobs and migration reports.

There are always variations in the data, however, housing supply kept going down despite near record building during the "slowdown".

Same goes for growth in OPPD residential numbers (helpful guide, but again imperfect). From 2020 to 2022 the number of residential households (not including other types) went from 342,716 to 351,712. A growth of about 9,000 households in some area counties on the Nebraska side (for better and worse).

This is why I'm fairly confident the slowdown here was over exaggerated.

It doesn't mean that it was exaggerated nationwide as there were a lot of COVID deaths and a dramatic immigration slowdown.

Overall, I think we are lowballed pretty hard and that is okay. We will see close to the real numbers in the final results.

Good intel Erik..

I do agree. And this further substantiates the “eye test” which I’m certain may folks are getting tired of me referencing, LOL..

But we’ll definitely see once the decade ends. I’ll continue to say, in order for the Omaha metro to be ultimately successful with all the ambitious plans currently in the works, it practically needs to grow at at least the 12% clip. I believe in the end, that’s what the numbers will eventually show…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[thenewguy]

Home sales and building permits are a good indicator. As are births versus deaths and to a lesser degree are new jobs and migration reports.

There are always variations in the data, however, housing supply kept going down despite near record building during the "slowdown".

Same goes for growth in OPPD residential numbers (helpful guide, but again imperfect). From 2020 to 2022 the number of residential households (not including other types) went from 342,716 to 351,712. A growth of about 9,000 households in some area counties on the Nebraska side (for better and worse).

This is why I'm fairly confident the slowdown here was over exaggerated.

It doesn't mean that it was exaggerated nationwide as there were a lot of COVID deaths and a dramatic immigration slowdown.

Overall, I think we are lowballed pretty hard and that is okay. We will see close to the real numbers in the final results.

Good intel Erik..

I do agree. And this further substantiates the “eye test” which I’m certain may folks are getting tired of me referencing, LOL..

But we’ll definitely see once the decade ends. I’ll continue to say, in order for the Omaha metro to be ultimately successful with all the ambitious plans currently in the works, it practically needs to grow at at least the 12% clip. I believe in the end, that’s what the numbers will eventually show…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

There needs to be population growth to support projects. But there needs to be projects to create growth. Hopefully the administration can sell that to the people, so they don't pull back on anything they aim to do. It seems like, as always, the uninformed vocal minority are the ones that get all the publicity, and then that publicity becomes 'public opinion'

[Omaha Cowboy]

Home sales and building permits are a good indicator. As are births versus deaths and to a lesser degree are new jobs and migration reports.

There are always variations in the data, however, housing supply kept going down despite near record building during the "slowdown".

Same goes for growth in OPPD residential numbers (helpful guide, but again imperfect). From 2020 to 2022 the number of residential households (not including other types) went from 342,716 to 351,712. A growth of about 9,000 households in some area counties on the Nebraska side (for better and worse).

This is why I'm fairly confident the slowdown here was over exaggerated.

It doesn't mean that it was exaggerated nationwide as there were a lot of COVID deaths and a dramatic immigration slowdown.

Overall, I think we are lowballed pretty hard and that is okay. We will see close to the real numbers in the final results.

Good intel Erik..

I do agree. And this further substantiates the “eye test” which I’m certain may folks are getting tired of me referencing, LOL..

But we’ll definitely see once the decade ends. I’ll continue to say, in order for the Omaha metro to be ultimately successful with all the ambitious plans currently in the works, it practically needs to grow at at least the 12% clip. I believe in the end, that’s what the numbers will eventually show…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

It seems like, as always, the uninformed vocal minority are the ones that get all the publicity, and then that publicity becomes 'public opinion'

You describe the mostly toxic environment of the Omaha Sub Reddit page to a tee here, lol..

Thankfully we can have topical, mature discourse about everything Omaha related on this forum, without having to defend and or correct 95% of the time …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nativeomahan]

The Lincoln Journal Star had a story today on the latest US Census numbers for Nebraska counties. In summary they showed Nebraska gained very few people in the latest estimates, with Sarpy, Lancaster and Douglas Counties accounting for more than 100% of what the state as a whole did gain. Sarpy fared best, followed by Lancaster, with Douglas gaining less than 900 people. The story speaks about the continued exodus of residents statewide, including in Douglas County, and points to a closer equivalence of deaths to births statewide as well as a lack of foreign immigration, with that trend tracing back to the start of the Trump administration. Thirty US states took in more Nebraska emigrants than the numbers they sent to us.
Of course it’s worth noting that much of the US had very slow population growth, and even shrinkage, since the 2020 census, for basically the same reasons…fewer births, more deaths, and a dramatic slowdown in immigration.
The story also attributes our extremely low unemployment rate to the fact that thousands more Nebraskans leave the state each year, and they are not being replaced by sufficient numbers of immigrants to our state. Hence, there aren’t enough people left to fill job vacancies.
https://journalstar.com/news/local/popu ... d40af.html

[almighty_tuna]

I don't believe that report. Everybody knows people are leaving because of property taxes.

[nativeomahan]

Hahahaa

[Omaha Cowboy]

US Census annual estimates are guesses too..

Our state needs help- and a plan. To attract folks here- no question about that..

Omaha has jobs- and good paying ones. Typically people will move to locations where opportunity exists..

We’ll see when the real “official” census numbers come out for 2030. Until then, I am very skeptical..for various reasons I’ve already stated in this thread…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[buildomaha]

I know I’m beating a dead horse in this forum, but this legislative session and the bills being pushed by the majority party are the perfect illustration of why nobody will migrate (or for some, even stay) in the state. When we don’t have the mountains, ocean, to attract, the economic policies that our state government pushes mirror nearly every other conservative state (minus property tax), no boom industries, etc. What I’m saying is, Nebraska doesn’t have anything to hang it’s laurels on that put it above our neighboring states, or states nationwide, and writing into law bills that hurt all kinds of people and families will only stack onto the list of con’s people see in our state. Maybe if the state showed it was pushing policies to help families raise kids with a good education, protect minorities, and other great policies, people might take a look at moving. Until that happens, it will be stuck on Omaha and Lincoln’s shoulders to legislate, build, and finance the growth of the state within their own borders.

[Cermak]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

[Louie]

I know I’m beating a dead horse in this forum, but this legislative session and the bills being pushed by the majority party are the perfect illustration of why nobody will migrate (or for some, even stay) in the state. When we don’t have the mountains, ocean, to attract, the economic policies that our state government pushes mirror nearly every other conservative state (minus property tax), no boom industries, etc. What I’m saying is, Nebraska doesn’t have anything to hang it’s laurels on that put it above our neighboring states, or states nationwide, and writing into law bills that hurt all kinds of people and families will only stack onto the list of con’s people see in our state. Maybe if the state showed it was pushing policies to help families raise kids with a good education, protect minorities, and other great policies, people might take a look at moving. Until that happens, it will be stuck on Omaha and Lincoln’s shoulders to legislate, build, and finance the growth of the state within their own borders.

I have been reiterating this as well

[Omaha Cowboy]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

Pretty much the same sentiment I’ve been expressing since I started this thread.. These estimates and that article just feel “off”..

Not quite buying what they’re selling. Not completely at least…

Ciao I..LiO…Peace

[Garrett]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

You hardly see any houses for sale because Omaha, like every city in the country, is in a massive housing shortage that was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

[Cermak]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

You hardly see any houses for sale because Omaha, like every city in the country, is in a massive housing shortage that was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

Then it's time to start building some houses then . First build some sort of dormers for all the homeless people. Luckily we don't have too many here because of our cold winters but other warmer areas, particularly California are overrun with homeless. Then in Places like Omaha build more affordable housing for first time homebuyers so they can get out of rental's and start building up some equity. Omaha needs more homes in the 150-300k range built. The U.S. government should take the initiative on this matter. You can't get ahead paying rent your whole life.

[Garrett]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

You hardly see any houses for sale because Omaha, like every city in the country, is in a massive housing shortage that was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

Then it's time to start building some houses then . First build some sort of dormers for all the homeless people. Luckily we don't have too many here because of our cold winters but other warmer areas, particularly California are overrun with homeless. Then in Places like Omaha build more affordable housing for first time homebuyers so they can get out of rental's and start building up some equity. Omaha needs more homes in the 150-300k range built. The U.S. government should take the initiative on this matter. You can't get ahead paying rent your whole life.

Right, just so long as the only options offered aren't single family homes, I agree. I think it's also a bit illogical that the state government is just so focused on mirroring the tax policies of other states instead of pushing for more unique policies that will actually draw people to Nebraska.

[nativeomahan]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

Since Covid houses in my neighborhood have sold without ever being listed as being “for sale”.

[nativeomahan]

That Journal Star article seemed pessimistic to me, we just got done with a worldwide Pandemic, I question the accuracy of those numbers. Just drive around Omaha you hardly see any homes for sale. Are all the people leaving Omaha living in apartments ? Must be .

You hardly see any houses for sale because Omaha, like every city in the country, is in a massive housing shortage that was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

Then it's time to start building some houses then . First build some sort of dormers for all the homeless people. Luckily we don't have too many here because of our cold winters but other warmer areas, particularly California are overrun with homeless. Then in Places like Omaha build more affordable housing for first time homebuyers so they can get out of rental's and start building up some equity. Omaha needs more homes in the 150-300k range built. The U.S. government should take the initiative on this matter. You can't get ahead paying rent your whole life.

Right, just so long as the only options offered aren't single family homes, I agree. I think it's also a bit illogical that the state government is just so focused on mirroring the tax policies of other states instead of pushing for more unique policies that will actually draw people to Nebraska.

Well, here’s the problem, as my friends in central Nebraska have been pointing out to me for the past 5 years or so: there is nobody around any longer to construct homes, whether single family or multi family. The builders needed to construct 10-15,000 housing units a year in the state just don’t exist. They are mostly stuck south of the border.

[stormchaser]

I just read an article from the Journal Star that says Lincoln grew (only ~750 people per year since 2020) but Omaha has "lost more than 6,500 people since 2020 based on census estimates" - as of July 2022.

Article here: https://journalstar.com/news/local/linc ... ff18e.html

You'd have to be blind if you honestly think Omaha and it's suburbs have been losing people:

[Louie]

How are they coming up with these numbers??

[Erik]

I just read an article from the Journal Star that says Lincoln grew (only ~750 people per year since 2020) but Omaha has "lost more than 6,500 people since 2020 based on census estimates" - as of July 2022.

Article here: https://journalstar.com/news/local/linc ... ff18e.html

You'd have to be blind if you honestly think Omaha and it's suburbs have been losing people:

Yeah. The census always uses a one shoe size approach, it's silly and leads to stupid deviations. The overall median is pretty good when encompassing all places, but this is is strikingly silly

[Omaha Cowboy]

I just read an article from the Journal Star that says Lincoln grew (only ~750 people per year since 2020) but Omaha has "lost more than 6,500 people since 2020 based on census estimates" - as of July 2022.

Article here: https://journalstar.com/news/local/linc ... ff18e.html

You'd have to be blind if you honestly think Omaha and it's suburbs have been losing people:

No question about it. I’ve been saying, for years, as it relates to the Omaha metro at least, these yearly US Census estimates are lowball and inaccurate anyway. But this BS piece in the LJS takes it to another level of nonsense..

That least there is attempt at common sense reality contained in the article from David Drozd-

“Early in the decade, there can be a lot of play in the numbers before the trends show themselves clearly in the data," Drozd said, noting that the Census' county-level estimates are much more accurate.

“I wouldn’t take these (city) numbers too seriously or proclaim loudly that these large traditionally growing cities are now losing population — it could well be flukes within the methodology," he said.”..

The Omaha metro (city and suburbs) ARE growing. Anyone who denies this is either blind as a bat or being intentionally ignorant (or both)…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[riceweb]

Are there "legit" explanations for the difference between on-the-ground observations of growth and the Census Bureau's models?

One of the big things since the pandemic is an abnormally large % of the population moving into larger housing, further away from job centers. This type of change has occurred throughout the entire housing market; even if you look at apartments, many folks went from having roommates to getting their own place. So the math could work out that you could have a large amount of housing construction with no net change in population.

I'm curious what the most reliable indicators of population are. For instance, can we look at student populations across Omaha-area schools as any indicator?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Are there "legit" explanations for the difference between on-the-ground observations of growth and the Census Bureau's models?

I'm curious what the most reliable indicators of population are. For instance, can we look at student populations across Omaha-area schools as any indicator?

In terms of a “legit” explanation, I’m not sure there is one. These US Census yearly estimates are as much a “guess” than what you or I or another source could provide. I keep mentioning to folks- Look around Omaha. Does it have the appearance of a city/metropolitan area that’s stagnant? How’s the housing market? Homes are being snatched up literally days after being available on the market. Jobs and labor force- people are moving to the Omaha area because JOBS are here. And a diverse number at that..

As it relates to reliable indicators of Omaha metro growth, I come back to the NUMEROUS mixed use, business, residential and transportation projects in play for Omaha right now. I HIGHLY doubt any of these projects would even be proposed, let alone approved, if the Omaha metro was a stagnant, stunted growth metropolis..

The LJS article is HOGWASH, and the US Census yearly estimate is flawed..

Like was intimated earlier, one would have to be literally blind and or be intentionally ignorant to think the Omaha metropolitan area is anything less than a vibrant, thriving and growing place of destination…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Cermak]

Those crazy Census numbers I doubt you can really trust those anymore. They appear flawed and politically tampered with. The whole census process needs to be revamped. Anyone that drives around Omaha can tell this place is growing and isn't stagnant or in decline. Houses get snatched up quickly, even homes in poor condition or bad locations. Our average home prices and rent are higher than nearby Des Moines. A metro area that has continuously spanked us in population growth during the past 20 years or so. This doesn't happen if a medium sized metro is stagnant or in decline. Quad Cities Iowa is an example of a stagnant or declining metro, Omaha far from it.

[Garrett]

Statistics are statistics. The 2019 estimate for the city was 478,000 and then the 2020 census proper showed 486,000. That tells me the estimates and the census proper tend to line up decently well. Historic growth trends before COVID cannot be relied on after COVID. I could see a within 5% year over year error.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Those crazy Census numbers I doubt you can really trust those anymore. They appear flawed and politically tampered with. The whole census process needs to be revamped. Anyone that drives around Omaha can tell this place is growing and isn't stagnant or in decline.

The yearly estimates are flawed. Even pre covid, the estimates low balled the Omaha Metro and CSA populations. It’s the official Decade end Census which is closer to reality..and has told a different story than the lowballed annual estimates leading up to it.. This time around, the estimate flaws are even more pronounced..

And yes. Anyone who simply drives around the metro knows this is a vibrant, growing area. Not even close to stagnant. US Census Estimates are becoming more amusing to me year after year these days..

In any case, we’ll await the 2030 official census..nd I’ll keep using the eyeball test as a gauge …

Ciao..LiO…Peace