Every weekend, restaurants in West Chester, Phoenixville and Downingtown are filled with diners. Each morning, the roads are jammed in Uwchlan and Avondale. And seemingly month by month, loading vans are parked in front of new luxury apartment complexes springing from the ground in West and East Whiteland.
It leads one to wonder, “Where are all these people coming from?” And the answer is, perhaps, “Not far.”
Once again, the U.S. Census Bureau has released figures that show Chester County as among the fastest-growing counties, population-wise, in the state.
The figures released this week show Pennsylvania experiencing an overall population decline of just over 41,000 people between 2020 and 2023. Pike County, with an increase of 4.6% followed by Cumberland County, at plus 4.3% were the fastest-growing counties in the state when looking at percent change from 2020 to 2023.
Of the four other counties that had populations that grew by 2.0 percent or more, Chester County led all with a 2.9% growth, with Adams County Butler County and Northampton County behind.
Of the 23 counties that increased in population between 2020 and 2023 the largest numeric increase came here, with an additional 15,369 people.
Overall, only nine of the county’s 73 municipalities showed a decrease in population numbers, with Tredyffrin — the county’s most populated municipality — with the largest drop, of 139, and Pennsbury, among the least populated, with the smallest, with two fewer residents.
Others showing a decline were London Britain, with three fewer residents; East Goshen, with 83 fewer; Avondale, with nine fewer; Valley, with 20 fewer, Atglen, with six fewer, Thornbury, with 16 fewer; and North Coventry, with 42 fewer.
Among those municipalities with growth rates, the largest were West Whiteland and Upper Uwchlan, each with 1.006 new residents; West Chester, with 988; and Kennett, with 892.
The greatest percent population decrease from 2020 to 2023 occurred in Forest County, with a 7.5% drop, followed by Greene, with 4.4%, Clearfield, with 4.3%, Fayette, with 3.8%, Cameron with 3.6%, and Philadelphia, with 3.3%. Twelve other counties had populations that declined by 2.0 percent or more.
Twenty-two other counties besides Chester increased in population between 2020 and 2023. Eleven other counties added at least 2,000 individuals since 2020, including Montgomery, with plus 12,201; Cumberland, with plus 11,259; York, with plus 8,199; Northampton, with plus 6,142; Lancaster, with plus 5,600); Butler, with plus 4,639; Berks, with plus 3,970; Lehigh, with plus 3,183; Adams, with plus 2,910; Dauphin, with plus 2,832; and Pike, with plus 2,701.
Population estimates are calculated using administrative records to estimate components of population change such as births, deaths, and migration.
