HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/12/2024 - Memorandum From Ryan Mounce Re: 2024 Fort Collins Population Estimate
Planning, Development & Transportation
Community Development & Neighborhood Services
281 N. College Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2350
970.224.6134 FAX
www.fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: March 5, 2024
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Planning, Development & Transportation Director
CC: Paul Sizemore, Community Development & Neighborhood Services Director
Clay Frickey, Planning Manager
FROM: Ryan Mounce, City Planner
RE: 2024 Fort Collins Population Estimate
The purpose of this memo is to provide City Council the annual City of Fort Collins population
estimate.
Background
City Planning staff monitor development and demographic trends in order to provide annual
population estimates for the community. This preliminary estimate is prepared at the beginning
of each calendar year and is used until a final population estimate from the State Demography
Office (SDO) becomes available. Final SDO estimates are typically available a year and a half
after the City publishes its preliminary estimate.
2024 Population Estimate
The City’s preliminary population estimate for 2024 is 174,705. This represents an increase of
2,158 persons over the prior estimate for 2023. This estimate is based primarily on a net
increase of 986 dwelling units from the preceding year. At the beginning of 2024 the community
contained 74,952 existing or permitted dwelling units.
Trends
Following the pandemic, population growth slowed dramatically in Fort Collins, mirroring state
and national trends. As data following the pandemic years normalize, there may be jumps in
dwelling unit and population totals. Last year saw an increase in new dwelling unit permits
compared to the pandemic years when construction activity was muted. Staff and State
Demography Office estimates continue to anticipate longer term for gradually slowing growth
due to long term demographic trends and the decreasing supply of vacant land in the
community.
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Fort Collins Preliminary Population Estimates
Monday, February 26, 2024
Metric 2020 Census 2021 2022 2023 2024
Housing Units 71,918 72,546 73,317 73,966 74,952
New Dwelling Units*628 827 649 986 Not Available
Dwelling Unit Vacancy Rate**5.70%5.70%5.70%6.09%6.09%
Vacant Dwelling Units 4,128 4,135 4,179 4,505 4,565
Occupied Dwelling Units 67,790 68,411 69,138 69,461 70,387
Persons Per Household**2.36 2.36 2.33 2.33 2.33
Household Population 159,984 161,450 161,146 161,845 164,003
Group Quarter Population**10,392 10,392 10,702 10,702 10,702
Preliminary Fort Collins Population Estimate*170,376 171,842 173,682 172,547 174,705
Final State Population Estimate**169,968 170,755 171,848 Not Available Not Available
U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimate 169,810 168,538 Not Available Not Available Not Available
* Provided by City of Fort Collins
** Provided by Colorado State Demography Office
State Demography Office estimates becomes available August of the subsequent year (e.g., final 2023
numbers will be available August 2023)
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