Good news and bad news for Greensboro can be found in the latest population figures from the North Carolina Office of State Management and Budget.
The figures recently released are for municipal population changes from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022.
In the last US Census in 2020, Greensboro was just a hair under 300,000 at 299,1010, and in the 2022 figures Greensboro had made it over the hump and the official population figure for July 1, 2022 is 301,495.
The bad news is that the growth in two years was only 2,394 or 0.8 percent, which compared to Greensboro’s peer cities in the state is anemic.
There is a statewide housing shortage in part caused by the tremendous growth in population in the state, but other cities, according to the figures, are dealing with that housing shortage better than Greensboro.
Greensboro maintained its ranking as the third largest city in the state, but according to the figures, unless there is a major change in policy by the Greensboro City Council, being number three isn’t going to last long.
The fourth largest city in the state is Durham, which according to the 2020 Census had a population of 283,507. The latest figures show that by 2022 the population in Durham had grown to 292,939. The population growth during that period was 9,432 or 3.3 percent.
So according to the latest figures, Greensboro’s population is 8,556 higher than Durham’s, and during the past two years Durham added 7,038 more to its population than Greensboro.
At that rate, Durham will pass Greensboro in population long before the 2030 US Census.
Even Winston-Salem right next door grew in population more than twice as fast as Greensboro. Winston-Salem’s growth rate was 1.9 percent to a 2022 population of 254,200.
Charlotte’s population growth was almost three times that of Greensboro’s, at 2.3 percent, to a population in 2022 of 894,866.
Fayetteville grew at a rate of 2.2 percent to 213,032 in 2022.
Wilmington left all those cities behind in population growth with 5.1 percent to 121,309.
The Greensboro City Council should be so proud.
John, a change in policy is not needed. A complete flush of city council is what is needed.
Do you wonder why?
Hey Big City anemic growth in your the last 2 years sort of puts a hole in all your BS doesn’t it. Durham will soon pass Greensboro kinda leaves a bad taste doesn’t it. If you need any spending money let me know I need someone to carry my briefcase
Rebel I own my house outright. I need someone to run my shop when I vacation i’m in my thirties and partially retired so I do that allot let me know where I can meet you for an interview, do you have any retail experience?
My dear boy, I’ve been in customer service for over 45 years, in both private ( my own construction co.) and public service and there’s no way you could afford me. I’m wayyy above your pay grade. Try again. I’m sure you can find several employees down on JJ Drive.
City I’ve been in customer set for over 45 years my own construction co. and the public sector. You my boy could not afford me. I will extend my offer to you to earn some pocket change washing my vehicles or carrying my briefcase. Just let me know. I personally don’t believe you are semi retired, not with your businesses
And here I was thinking big city was the former city manager
Twin brothers from different mothers , same baby daddy
12 murders in Greensboro so far big city, doesn’t look like Durham will catch us again. You must be SO proud
well, that kinda tells a story…doesn’t it?
Is there any information indicating whether the growth in other cities is organic or by annexation? It does seem odd that GSO is lagging Winston by so much.
Winston provides water/sewer service without requiring annexation for new development outside their current city limits whereas Greensboro does. That would seem to indicate Winston’s growth is organic
What good is growth for growth’s sake? How much capacity is left in the GBO water and wastewater treatment plants? solid waste disposal areas? public roads and traffic? electric utility grid? Limited growth may mean higher quality of life for Greensboro.
Durham is gaining higher paying jobs through Duke and RTP. Higher paying jobs, higher house prices equals more tax money through normal means-sales tax, property tax. We gain more takers, not makers. Durham had a performing arts center first. They have a Triple A baseball team. They are closer to Raleigh so you can be to a Hurricanes game in 25 minutes. 20 minutes to a real airport.
Curious why this was not in the State of the City report?
Hear, hear!
I liked Greensboro better when it was 154,000.
I liked it best in the 1940s & 50s. Liked the USA, too.
I know what you mean, Miller.
No crime, no communism, no perversion. And people were happy, and civil to each other.
But I might not be quite as old as you (I was born in the 60’s).
If you look up “old” in the dictionary, you will see my photo.
There seems to be an issue with the cost and getting the permits in a timely manner. They need to hire some people in that department to get the job done. Their was an article that came out last year about businesses wanting to locate in Greensboro, but the permits takes forever.
Geekboro is woefully ignorant how important a municipal infrastructure promotes citizen involvement and recruiting companies to move here. They’ll give money to companies, but do nothing in terms of improving their streets, police & fire capabilities, etc. They also function as social workers for passing along revenue to “non-profits” which is not at the top of things a vibrant city should be doing. Geekboro needs to be renamed to “Pot-Hole Boro”.
Guildford county on the other hand will maintain its spot as the the third largest metro for some time to come as yes we have ceded some of our gains to whitset, colfax, highpoint and Gibsonville and the broader county, unlike Durham we are not tethered to one of the fastest growing cities in the country for the last five years so that is somewhat an unfair comparison being Greensboro serves as the economic engine for 5 counties, however Durham has ran into major problems, their schools are in shamble’s after teachers and support staff where stiffed on a promised pay raise leading most of the county schools to go on strike, Greensboro and Guilford county has grown 12 out of the last twelve years with no end in sight Charlotte has even ran into its own problems with its school board plagued by cronyism and back room deals far from what’s on display In Guilford county the other on this list have been the epitome of “anemic growth” Wilmington Winston and Fayetteville had lost population over the last decade they are now being helped by NC recent growth.
My dear boy, I’ve been in customer service for over 45 years, in both private ( my own construction co.) and public service and there’s no way you could afford me. I’m wayyy above your pay grade. Try again. I’m sure you can find several employees down on JJ Drive.
Guilford County Schools are great. Right.
At least when I was in a Guilford County school they taught punctuation.
DTF what exactly are you referring to
See Big City’s post above which is one big rambling paragraph that mentions Durham County Schools.
Well, well, well…comes as no surprise! Other than a couple of aircraft manufacturers who need a test runway we have no corporate prospects who want to relocate to a crime ridden, deteriorating infrastructure city with no downtown to speak of. Toyota is not in Greensboro so I don’t quite follow that benefit. If a prospect is seeking a city government who’s main priority is DEI and the prioritization of race and gender over competency in its administration, then we might have something to offer. Until then let’s just keep building more apartments that will be slums in 10 years. A friend at a national commercial real estate firm told me 10 years ago that Guilford County and Greensboro were not even suitable for major employers to seriously consider because leadership here was just a glorified patronage system. Just look at the positions our last city manager created for his own benefit. The City cuts deals with non profits with dubious credentials but well placed board members who double as city council members. Feeding at the public trough is now an art form in Greensboro. Public Safety and Services like clean water are way down the list of priorities…the public schools are a deterorating joke.
This makes sense.
Have you seen the leadership?
How about the streets they allowed to be painted with political messages?
How about the gang problems that “don’t exist.” Yet they actually pay thugs to cure the violence. The city is now a known haven for homelessness & the latest atrocity at the Hebrew Academy. Every week is something more woke or broke.
All you need to look at is a “progressive “ city council that cares only about their power base. There is no real vision and no “can do” attitude with most of these people. I wish folks would wake up and vote them out of office instead of maintaining the status quo.
Yes so it’s interesting to think what is the cause or reason of this? I could be wrong but I think our property tax rate is the highest in the state. It went up in 2022 and then went up another 20% in 2023. So paid about $2,100 in 2022 and then over ,$2,600 in 2023. What do they do that is so much better than the other cities? It’s certainly not being transparent, that’s been obvious over the years. I plan on moving within a year or two. And the traffic light system is set up for obviously rush hour because when I go down West market in the morning and have to cross Guilford college there’s literally no traffic taking a left but I’m sitting at the light for 30 seconds to a minute because the light stays green??? This is the same system they use downtown everything on timers. We’re wasting so much energy and gas on inefficient traffic light systems, it’s time for Us to be smarter. But it’s like everything else, money and greed and politics takes the lead and power over other things that should be done that are common sense, but not many people have that any longer or don’t want to have it because of the special interest and all the ways somebody can make money these days, it’s really convoluted and seems like it gets worse. We’re so deep in the mud one day you going to get stuck and not be able to come out. But unfortunately that’s what is always needed until a real change can happen. We’re not very smart after all.
Soon, with their water and sewer infrastructure grant from the State, Liberty will take off. Would you rather live in Greensboro or Guilford County to work and drive to the Toyota Battery Plant or in Liberty or Randolph County with low low taxes and be at the front door? Liberty came to Greensboro for both and Greensboro said NO. They could have extended the lines and charged the normal 2x the rate and made some money. No forward thinking. You go little Liberty. You showed Greensboro!
And I guess that housing shortage won’t be a shortage for long. To quote an old politician that many likely don’t remember. Soon there will be a giant sucking sound to the southeast….Randolph County!
Who the F wants to live in Liberty? I unfortunately had to spend 4 years down there as part of a bad relationship. I don’t think I have been south of Pleasant Garden since?
Dtf, you seem to have anger issues, try some Midol. It helps my wife.
I think Greensboro & Guilford County have enough issues with the growth they have. Slower growth did not seem to affect incoming corporations like ZOOM, Toyota, etc…..it may have helped. A much faster-growing population means much faster city expansion into the county and much higher home prices, which as we have seen equates to MUCH higher property taxes for the county and the city and most likely an overall increase to the everyday cost of living for all. It may be that we should calm down and leave the bragging rights to Charlotte and Durham, along with the negative effects of growth. I am all for growing, but the long-time residents of Guilford County and Greensboro are struggling as it is…..so we need to learn to crawl before we run.
Anemic economic growth has continued for more than two decades, borne out by 2010 and 2020 census data showing lackluster population growth. During this period, important business gains have been offset by government policies that prioritized expensive social policy ahead of sensible business policies that encouraged growth and improved economic opportunities . In many ways – unnecessary regulation, impotent government leadership, high taxes, all have contributed to an inability of Greensboro to maintain pace with other cities.
With the slow growth in Greensboro, why are apartment prices so high. There should be plenty of vacant apartments. It takes 2 people to live in an apartment to make it. And with there being far more single men in Greensboro than single women, my chances of finding a single woman are very slim.