DVRPC Releases Population Forecasts For Our Area

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), recently released population forecasts for as far out as 2040. According to the commission, the forecasts are an essential component of long-range transportation and land use planning.

The DVRPC last calculated population forecasts in July 2007, but with the results of the 2010 Census having recently been released and the country facing an ongoing economic recession, the commission felt that a new forecast was warranted.

The group prepared regional, county and municipal-level population forecasts in five-year increments through 2040, using 2010 Census data as the base.

According to the forecast, the Delaware Valley region as a whole is expected to gain over 600,000 residents (an 11.4% increase). Norristown is projected to grow only 4% (or 1,389 residents over the 30-year span).

Here are the projected population numbers for Norristown in five year increments:

• 2000 population: 31,280
• 2010 population: 34,324
• 2015 forecast:    34,540
• 2020 forecast:    34,817
• 2025 forecast:    35,139
• 2030 forecast:    35,460
• 2035 forecast:    35,647
• 2040 forecast:    35,713

Nearby West Norriton is expected to grow 9.8% over the next 30 years (from 15,663 residents in 2010 to 17,193 in 2040, a 1,530 increase.) In East Norriton the gains are more modest – a 6.9% increase (from 13,590 residents in 2010 to 14,524 in 2040, a 934 increase.)

Across the river in Bridgeport, the DVRPC is forecasting a 15.8% bump in population (from 4,554 in 2010 to 5,725 in 2040, a 721 increase.) 

Conshohocken is expected to see the greatest gains in our area jumping 26.9% over the next 30 years (from 7,833 residents in 2010 to 9,938 residents in 2040, a 2,105 increase.)

See projections for other communities across the Delaware Valley on the DVRPC website.